Woman successfully sues Punjab University for error that damaged her reputation

"No money could compensate for the damage their act did to my honour and reputation in society"


News Desk March 28, 2017
Wajiha Arooj hoped to continue her education and join Pakistan's civil service - but gossip changed everything. PHOTO: BBC

A Pakistani woman has won a 17-year legal battle against Punjab University. Wajiha Arooj sued the university over an error that triggered gossip and damaged her reputation, reported BBC.

Arooj was studying for a master's degree in English at the university where she was wrongly marked absent in an exam and subsequently told she had failed. A university official then suggested to her father that he might be unaware of his daughter's 'activities' and whereabouts.

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Speaking to BBC, Arooj said, "The university crushed my dreams and it never apologised. No money could compensate for the damage their act did to my honour and reputation in society."

In a society like Pakistan, especially 17 years ago, any speculation that a daughter might be involved in situations not deemed appropriate would make the rumour mill churn. When news of Arooj's alleged absence in the exam reached the ears of her family and peers and she was doubted and taunted. "Even my mother looked at me in a strange way, with doubt in her eyes," she said.

"My cousins started asking me questions on why I missed the exam."

It became unbearable for her to face her peers. "Gossiping in the classroom, they would mockingly say that one can go anywhere on the pretext of taking an exam. And they would make sure that I could hear them."

Arooj said her relatives had already objected to her taking evening classes at the university. As the gossip spread, things got even harder for her. "At one point I was so distressed I even considered committing suicide," she said.

It was then that she decided to take action against the university. With the backing of her immediate family, her father a practicing lawyer and retired judge represented her.

Four months later, the university officials produced her exam answer sheet in court. The error was blamed on a clerical staff who did not check the attendance sheet properly. The court ruled that the university had been negligent.

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The university then corrected their error and issued a new examination result for Arooj.

The damage had already been done, however. Even as Arooj returned to classes, she was unable to regain the respect of those around her. This is when she sued the university for damaging her reputation.

Meanwhile, her parents decided to marry her off because they feared for her future. While her immediate family were very progressive, the part of society she came from was conservative. "My parents thought it better that I get married soon so that I did not have to go to the university again and face embarrassing questions from people," she said.

However, getting married meant she was unable to attain her goal - joining Pakistan's civil service.

While both her sisters continued studying, one of whom is a serving judicial official, Arooj gave birth and moved with her husband and daughter to Canada.

While she did not get a chance to start a career there, she says she is happy.

Even while she was in Canada, her case in Pakistan made its way through courts, albeit slowly.

Sagheer Muhammad, her father, said the university continued challenging the case in higher courts. "In the process they spent five years arguing and the rest in gathering evidence in their defence," said Muhammad.

In 2016, a civil court in Lahore ruled in Arooj's favour. The university was ordered to pay her Rs. 800,000. The university challenged the ruling but earlier this month an appeal court upheld the decision of the civil court.

Khurrum Shehzad, a university spokesperson, told the BBC that the administration would first look into the court's verdict as it was an old case. "We will see if the student is in the right, [then] we would definitely comply with court orders. If we feel the university was in the right, we would contest the order on the next available legal platform," the spokesperson said.

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Dr Farzan Bari, a known human rights activist in Pakistan told BBC that while Pakistani society was changing, some taboos still exist. "Even today if a girl finds herself in a similar situation, she would face the same gossip and pressure from the society," she said.

She further commented that she was surprised Arooj was able to pursue her case for so long. "Generally, people do not have trust in the judicial system or they give up early," she said.

For Arooj however, the ruling of the court was enough. "I just wanted an acknowledgment that I was not wrong, therefore I still consider this as victory."

This story originally appeared on BBC

COMMENTS (22)

Usman786 | 6 years ago | Reply how much court fee and fuel/vehicle maint university spent in high court
Riz | 6 years ago | Reply Hahaha there are many people who took dreams of higher education in eyes to grave. Specifically villagers are living like animals you took case of higher class only. What about us who belongs to lower class?
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