PU VC slammed for sparing Dr Naz

Punjab University’s (PU) leftist teachers have strongly condemned VC Dr Mujahid Kamran for discriminating against Dr Iftikhar Baloch and turning a blind eye to Dr Ahsan Akhtar Naz, who, according to them, deserved a similar treatment.
Teachers claimed the VC had spared the Pro JI faculty member facing termination due to his strong connections with the IJT.
The criticism against the PU VC arose two days ago when Institute of Communication Studies (ICS)Director Dr Ahsan Akhter Naz was spared despite an inquiry committee’s recommendation to terminate the professor and register an FIR against him and another colleague.
It was learnt that the university management was under pressure to spare both Dr Baloch and Naz. But the VC braved the pressure to remove Dr Baloch while a decision on Naz’s fate is still pending. Groups within PU, however, fear the PU administration might spare Naz due to his strong background.
The PU administration issued a termination letter to Dr Baloch after an inquiry against him found him guilty of sexual harassment. However, no protests were seen in PU regarding the termination.
On Friday, teachers were seen condemning the PU VC for exercising alleged double standards.
Speaking to Pakistan Today, an Academic Forum (leftist) said the removal of group member Dr Baloch constituted victimization since the VC did not take action against Pro IJT and Pro JI teacher Dr Naz due to his political affiliations.
Another PU teacher said teachers should move against the PU VC for exercising inconsistent policies. He urged young, articulate teachers to condemn the discrimination. A young female lecturer said senior ICS faculty member Professor Dr Affira Hamid had uncovered Dr Naz’s academic corruption and now it was time for the PU VC to show courage and remove Naz.
Another female faculty member said that PU teachers were united against JI pressure but the VC was not supportive. She referred to the recent PU syndicate election where teachers had helped the pro-VC group win but were now disappointed by the VC’s lack of action against Dr Naz.
Huge Pressure: Requesting anonymity, a senior PU’s administrative official said the administration is aware of the grievance of teachers, however, they needed time before acting, since the administration and especially the VC was facing pressure from the JI. He said an impartial decision would need some time.
On Friday, PU teachers also condemned IJT activists who protested against Dr Baloch in front of the PU mosque. They claimed the PU mosque was the wrong place to use as a platform for politics. IJT activists carried poster against Dr Baloch and distributed pamphlets against him. The teachers condemned the IJT activists for never raising their voice against the corruption by pro IJT teachers.
Condemning IJT activists, a PU teacher said why did IJT activists speak out against Dr Naz’s corruption? He said it was the JI and IJT who had saved Dr Naz in 2002 when he was expelled from the department for allegedly sexually harassing his own student. Similarly in 2004, IJT activists protested in favor of a former PU Dean after allegations emerged that he had been sexually harassing his female colleagues and were rewarded with jobs for the support.