Cases of sexual harassment at workplaces, universities, colleges and schools are being reported with increasing frequency from nearly all over the country. This state of affairs shows our society is fast sliding into a moral abyss. Recently, what has been revealed on social media about a private school in Lahore shows the extent of growing harassment of female students in educational institutions. An unfortunate part of the whole thing is that sexual harassment of female students had been going on for years, and the school administration was in the know of the sordid happenings yet they did nothing to rectify the situation despite having reportedly received repeated complaints from the victims.
The school administration allegedly suppressed the matter until the cat was out of the bag after the victims came out with their experiences on social media. At least four teachers from the school have been sacked on the allegations of having subjected girl students to various forms of sexual harassment. Some of the teachers were not only harassing students but intimidating the victims with failing in exams and posting their objectionable photoshopped pictures on the internet. Some of the teachers even cajoled students into consuming alcohol.
Following the torrent of complaints and comments on social media, the school management has decided to conduct a thorough investigation into the incident. Besides, the district education authorities have ordered an inquiry into the scandal. Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar has asked the provincial education department to conduct a thorough probe into the sordid issue. Police officials too have questioned those accused of harassment and have listened to the victims, in their investigations of the issue.
Informed circles say the victims have no worthwhile legal remedy available to them as there is no clear law against sexual harassment in the province. The increasing cases of sexual harassment make it all the more necessary to enact laws prescribing deterrent punishment for those indulging in such immoral activities.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 5th, 2020.
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we must wait for the other side of the story as well. If this comes true, the offenders must put behind the bars to set an example for those indulging in such immoral activities.