The principal of Government MAO College, Dr Farhan Ebadat Khan, has been removed from his post after he was found ‘negligent’ in the case involving harassment allegations against deceased lecturer Afzal Mehmood, which had driven the latter to commit suicide.
According to a notification issued on Monday, he has been directed to report to the Punjab Higher Education Department (HED).
Meanwhile, Riaz Hashmi has been given the charge of the college.
Last week, Punjab HED had issued a summary after conducting an inquiry into the case, which expressed serious concerns over the attitude of Khan regarding the death of lecturer Afzal Mehmood.
According to details, the summary issued by the education department had called for action against the principal, saying his attitude was “very rude and lethargic”.
The report further stated that Dr Farhan had failed to take necessary measures to address the concerns of the late lecturer despite him having been proven not guilty by the college harassment committee.
The report had also noted that Dr Farhan was known to display unprofessional and rude behavior with staff and faculty members and was in the habit of evading his responsibilities.
The education department had recommended the removal of Dr Farhan primarily on these grounds.
MAO College lecturer Muhammad Afzal Nadeem had committed suicide following harassment allegations leveled against him by a female student which were later found to have been false.
However, college authorities had failed to clear Afzal’s name by not issuing an official notification exonerating him, which Afzal said in his suicide note had caused considerable damage to his reputation.