Sindh health minister receives backlash for accusing student of lying about harassment

Sindh Health Minister Azra Fazal Pechuho received a strong backlash after she claimed that a university student in Benazirabad district who had accused her teacher of sexual harassment was lying, a local media outlet reported on Sunday.

“I personally got the matter investigated and I have come to know that she [Farzana Jamali, a final year student of Shaheed Benazir Bhutto University’s English Department] is lying,” she claimed.

Pechuho’s statement invited sharp criticism from student organisations, political leaders and human rights activists.

“After Pechuho’s statement given in support of the teacher and the VC before completion of the probe, we don’t expect an impartial investigation,” said Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA) General Secretary Ayaz Latif Palijo.

“As a woman, Pechuho should not be making such statements,” said Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Member Provincial Assembly (MPA) Haleem Adil Sheikh, adding that Pechuho should have waited for the inquiry committee to submit its report over the allegations.

Farzana Jamali had made the allegations last week during a press conference.

The Sindh High Court had taken notice of the incident on September 5.