Varsity to take up harassment case

A spokesperson for the University of Haripur (UoH) while responding to a news item in a section of the media about the alleged harassment of a female student, said that immediately after the report of the incident, the vice-chancellor formed a high-profile inquiry committee comprising two senior professors including the dean concerned and director academics and the university's female chief proctor.

“The committee has submitted its report to the vice-chancellor, who has been presented to the university's “standing committee on harassment”. However, the recommendations of the standing committee will be kept for a final decision in the forthcoming syndicate meeting as per the university policy and the decision of the syndicate will be implemented,” the spokesperson said adding that the complainant student herself made a written request on 8 January to close the inquiry.

He further said that the university administration regularly informs its employees in writing to raise awareness and comply with the policy.

The spokesperson said that Haripur University strictly adheres to the Protection against Harassment of Women at Workplace Act-2010.

The university spokesperson, while elaborating on the reporting in the media on incidents of alleged harassment at the university, said that the law on "protection against sexual harassment" at the Haripur University has been in force for a long time, and all available resources were being utilised to implement it.

 He said that print and electronic media were playing their active role in enforcing the law in society and the workplace but in this particular case, the media played a ‘biased role’. The university administration is pursuing a policy of complete intolerance in this regard. He said that the university puts the dignity and protection of women in the workplace first and foremost and has taken all necessary steps in this regard.

He further said that Haripur University is mindful in all aspects regarding the implementation of the law and the significant increase in the number of female teachers and female students in the university in the last three years is a testament to it.

Regarding the enforcement of the law, he said that the “standing committee on protection of harassment” has been formed and notified.

He further said that Haripur University sacked one of its employees in 2019 after sexual harassment charges were proven against him.

It should be noted her that the administration has closed down the University of Haripur till March 7 on the pretext of coronavirus cases after the alleged sexual harassment of a female student by a teacher.

Sources privy to the development said that the university has been closed to cover up the sexual harassment incident and to keep the students away from protesting against the incident.

According to the sources, a first-semester female student WS* of the Public Health and Nutrition Department submitted an application to Vice-Chancellor Dr Anwarul Hassan Gilani, accusing the head of the Public Health and Nutrition Department Assistant Prof Dr Amjad Khan of harassment.

The vice-chancellor had formed an inquiry committee, however, the family has withdrawn the admission of the student after they were allegedly pressured not to pursue the case.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 3^rd, 2022.