FIA seeks two weeks’ time to finalise UoB report

Bench comprising Justice Mandokhail, Justice Abdullah Baloch heard video scandal case

QUETTA: Balochistan High Court (BHC) Chief Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail on Thursday said the varsity video scandal will be the biggest setback if it comes out to be true as a two member divisional bench, comprising Justice Mandokhail and Justice Abdullah Baloch, heard the video scandal case of University of Balochistan (UoB).

Advocate General Balochistan, UoB’s registrar, complainants and their lawyers were present during the hearing.

Deputy Director Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Cybercrimes Arsalan requested the court for two weeks’ time to finalise the investigative report.

In a reply to Justice Mandokhail’s question, UoB registrar said they had removed hidden cameras that were spotted.

The court inquired from the registrar as to why was the departmental inquiry not conducted against those involved in the sexual harassment scandal to which the registrar replied they were waiting for the final report of the FIA.

During the hearing, Justice Mandokhail said the UoB was being hijacked ever since the news of sexual harassment scandal came out.  “Every individual goes to the varsity with 50 people to become a hero and a patriot,” he remarked.

Justice Mandhokhail lashed out at parliamentary committee’s letter to UoB’s vice chancellor with certain directions.

“The chairperson of the committee has no authority to direct the university administration,” he said. “Nobody can intervene in the varsity’s affairs.”

During his remarks, Justice Mandokhail said the varsity administration should issue cards for staffers, students, academics and visitors.

On Chief Justice’s orders, UoB registrar said they would install biometric system wherever it is required at the UoB along with making uniform compulsory for students.

“The uniforms can put an end to class difference between rich and the poor students at the varsity,” Justice Mandhokhail said.

During the hearing, additional advocate general Shaik Baloch said the registrar involved in the scandal is given a new positing. Due to this reason, the girls who wanted to come out against him are hesitating now.

In reply to Frontier Corps’ (FC) deployment at the UoB, the registrar said there is now minimum presence of FC personnel within the university’s premises and talks are under way with the FC officials to shift them.

The hearing of the case was adjourned till December 2.

The issue of harassment came into focus in the province when around two months ago the Balochistan High Court directed the Federal Investigation Agency to investigate reports of students being harassed on the University of Balochistan campus.

The FIA later discovered that male and female students were being blackmailed by some staff members through ‘objectionable’ videos of them, recorded through CCTV cameras hidden at various places on the campus.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 15^th, 2019.