Sexual harassment: University of Peshawar suspends lecturer

By Manzoor Ali

Four others are being investigated on charges of harassing female students.

PESHAWAR: The University of Peshawar (UoP) suspended a lecturer following initial investigations into sexual harassment charges leveled by female students, sources said.

They told The Express Tribune that a teacher of the university’s history department, was suspended, while investigations against four other teachers are in progress.

At present, a four-member committee formed by the provincial government and headed by Minister for Social Welfare Sitara Ayaz, as well as another four-member internal committee of the UoP, is probing the matter.

The issue was brought to light by Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) lawmaker Nighat Orakzai on the provincial assembly floor on April 19.

She said that several parents had complained to the vice chancellor about senior teachers and heads of various departments being involved in sexual harassment of female students. The grounds of suspension were not immediately clear, as the committee formed by the provincial government is yet to file its report into the incident.

The other committee, according to a UoP source, was formed on Monday and is being headed by the Dean of the faculty of Social Sciences Dr Sarah Safdar. Ayaz told The Express Tribune that they have prepared a first draft of their report, which will be submitted to the government within the next two to three days.

“We have prepared our first draft and are now looking into the legal issues. The committee has a meeting scheduled for Wednesday in this regard,” Ayaz said.

Sources said that others under scrutiny are senior faculty members of different departments. However, their names have not been disclosed.

Source: The Express Tribune

Date:5/18/2011