Mahira Khan, netizens call out 'shameful' expulsion of student for highlighting alleged harassment

The Institute of Business Administration (IBA) recently expelled its final year student for highlighting an incident of alleged harassment on campus and Twitter is furious. Many are calling the institute’s “disciplinary decision” a “gross overreaction, which despite its verbose explanation makes little sense.”

Mohammad Gibrail, who claims to have witnessed a female employee of the varsity's finance department being harassed by a male supervisor was “thrown out” by the institute, without even being “allowed to collect [his] possessions from the hostel,” according to lawyer and activist Mohammad Jibran Nasir, who has shared alleged details of the incident on his Instagram.

Gibrail, while notifying his followers about the same on Facebook, lamented how he has been expelled for not using the "right channels that are expected to be followed,” as per a IBA statement shared in a Facebook post. Many have criticised the institute in the comments section of this post as well. “How absolutely atrocious of you, [I] can't be arsed to write a huge paragraph like you did, but hey, congratulations to IBA for creating a safe space...for harassers,” wrote a user.

Now, actor Mahira Khan has also called the University’s decision “shameful” and “sad,” after users pointed out how the institute resorted to “extreme measures” without making any mention of the course of action that would be taken against the said harasser. IBA has, however, assured that its “Anti-Harassment Committee is investigating the case as per IBA and HEC rules, regulations, and procedures.”

But Jibran has claimed that the same Anti-Harassment Committee had told the female staffer in question that, “Jibrael ko toh hum Dekh lain gey, ab aur eye witness Kahan say Lao gi.” PPP leader Sharmila Faruqui is also disgusted by the institute’s decision. "His crime was to speak against injustice and [for] women’s rights. Disgusted and appalled by this action by IBA Karachi," she has tweeted.

Jibran pointed out how with the student’s expulsion, IBA has sent a message to “all [its] female staff and students that they can never rely on an eye witness [in cases of harassment], as anyone who speaks up like Gibrail will be expelled. At the same time, it has told [the world] that it is teaching its students to stay quiet and keep your head down when you witness injustice.”

In conclusion, IBA asserted, "The Institute will ensure that its rules and regulations are being followed and will not allow any breach in the code of conduct. It is also to inform you that while the decision on this case is being communicated to you, there are other cases which are pending with the respective committees and final decisions will be communicated to you once a decision has been made after thorough inquiries. The IBA management will abide by the decisions made. In case of any queries/concerns, formal and official means of communication need to be followed so that the relevant concerns can be addressed following the set channels."

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