MPA accuses varsity VC of ‘harassment’

Shazia Karim alleges Prof Akhtar Baloch sent her a short porn video clip via WhatsApp

KARACHI:

A sitting member of the Sindh Assembly has lodged a written complaint of harassment against Vice-Chancellor of Benazir Bhutto Shaheed University Lyari (BBSUL) Prof Akhtar Baloch in Karachi.

In a letter, available with The Express Tribune, sent to Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah on Monday, MPA Shazia Karim Sanghar from Lyari said: "He [Baloch] has sent me vulgar, sexual and immoral stickers through WhatsApp."

The provincial minister, who is also one of the syndicate members of the BBSUL, said that she had lodged a complaint with Sindh Minister for Boards and Universities Ismail Rahu about the issues the varsity had been facing.

She said that after Rahu's contact, Prof Baloch phoned and harassed her.

Sources told The Express Tribune that after the threatening call via WhatsApp, the vice-chancellor also sent her a short porn video clip.

"I forwarded her just a message being circulated on the social media," Prof Baloch said while speaking to The Express Tribune. He said that it was a "press release kind of text" that was sent to the woman MPA.

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The university VC went on to say that the lawmaker was a syndicate member of the university. "We have a good contact with Madam [MPA]," he said. "We live in the same area," he added.

It was also learnt that the parliamentarian has also sent a complaint to the Cybercrime Wing of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), requesting it to probe the matter as it was online harassment.

The PPP MPA has demanded the Sindh CM take stern action against the vice-chancellor immediately. Sources also revealed that the complaint has also been lodged with the PPP leadership.

Speaking to The Express Tribune, a PPP lawmaker has confirmed the harassment letter against Prof Baloch has been sent to CM Murad and the cybercrime office.

"Such attitude of an educationist will not be tolerated," she said. "I am shocked and in mental trauma, since I received his text," the provincial minister added.

She further said that it was her prime responsibility to expose such people.

In January 2020, Sanghar was reportedly harassed by unknown men near her home. As per Sanghar, who had already been facing threats since she became an MPA on a reserved seat, she was chased by two motorcyclists on Mauripur Road. The lawmaker was on her way to visit the site of a building collapse in Khadda Market, accompanied by two women workers and a driver. Sensing the danger, her driver turned the vehicle in a street to avoid a possible attack.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 18^th, 2022.