IIUI sets up body to impeach employees ‘defaming varsity’
PHOTO: IIUI
The International Islamic University Islamabad (IIUI) administration has set up a committee to launch an investigation and impeach employees, who have “defamed” the university by bringing to light mismanagement issues after the sexual abuse of a boy on the campus a few months back.
According to reliable sources, the said “defamation committee” headed by Dr Zafar Iqbal has been formed in retaliation against those employees who had raised their voices against the mismanagement in the university while testifying before Education Ministry Additional Secretary Mohiuddin Wani, who has submitted a damning report to the education ministry after inquiring the sexual assault of a boy in the hostel in June.
According to the sources, the committee continues to summon those employees who had highlighted mismanagement and maladministration issues.
In this regard, IIUI legal adviser Rehanuddin has categorically stated that Dr Zafar Iqbal has illegally been inducted into the university after he was sacked earlier
According to the additional secretary report submitted to the education ministry, the security in charge and the administration not only attempted to conceal the rape of the boy but also did not lodge a first information report (FIR) after the incident.
The report prepared by Additional Secretary Mohiuddin Wani has held the security head and security staff responsible for the rape incident in the university. The report further recommended replacing the director administration and the security in charge.
The report has also recommended disciplinary action against those responsible for the security breach on the campus and prevent such incidents in the future.
It further called for setting up a 15 helpline at the university and sharing the data of students living in the hostels with the district administration. The report has also recommended allowing the district administration to visit hostels.
According to the additional education secretary report, the official statement on the rape of the boy was incongruous with the facts and it had recommended disciplinary action against officials for concealing the incident.
The report had asked the university rector to take measures to make administrative changes within a fortnight and submit a report to the education ministry. It further stated that proceedings and removal of the security in charge, the supervisor, the director administration and others.
The report recommended forming a committee to stop recurring such incidents in the university in the future while also suggesting action against the doctor on duty at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences for not examining the affected boy.
In this regard, IIUI spokesperson Nasir Farid said that the purpose of forming the committee was to take action against “elements who defame the university with false information”. He added that action has already been taken against the elements who had shared the video after the boy was sexually abused.
He further maintained that in fact, two committees have been constituted. The first committee will conduct a preliminary inquiry into any incident before sending the matter to the defamation committee.
The spokesperson said that the head of the committee, Dr Zafar, was removed from office by the then president on an allegation of defamation but he had withdrawn the notification.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 30th, 2021.