No male staff in female institution, says CJ

LAHORE:

Following a series of alleged harassment incidents in girls' educational institutions, Lahore High Court (LHC) Chief Justice Aalia Neelum issued a stern warning, declaring that "no male staff will be tolerated where females are present."

The CJ expressed deep dissatisfaction with the Punjab Police's handling of the cases and the failure to prevent the circulation of a viral video linked to one of the incidents.

During the hearing, Chief Justice Neelum criticised the inefficiency of the police and remarked, "Anything can be done if there is the will to do it."

Punjab Inspector General of Police (IGP) Dr Usman Anwar acknowledged the police's failure to adequately handle a recent suicide case at Punjab University admitting that a report under Section 174 of the CrPC had not been filed.

The court also rejected the report submitted by Lahore College for Women University (LCWU), noting that it was only prepared after the registrar was served notice.

Chief Justice Neelum instructed the Director General of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to investigate all social media accounts related to incidents at Punjab Group of Colleges, LCWU, and the Punjab University suicide case.

She also emphasised that any statements from students must be recorded in the presence of their parents, vice-chancellor, and registrar, ensuring no coercion was involved.

She invited anyone with direct information on the three cases to come forward, offering them the opportunity to speak to authorities or the FIA.

In light of multiple petitions demanding a high-level inquiry into harassment incidents in Lahore's educational institutions, Chief Justice Neelum formed a larger bench to address these concerns. The bench will also investigate those involved in sharing a fake video allegedly targeting Provincial Information Minister Azma Bukhari.

During the proceedings, Chief Justice Neelum reprimanded IGP Anwar for arriving late to the courtroom, asking why he was not present when the case was called. The IGP explained he had arrived early but was outside meeting the parents of a girl.

The Chief Justice expressed frustration over the viral spread of a girl's video, stating it could have been stopped within 30 minutes.

IGP Anwar admitted that the police lacked the authority to halt the video, claiming they had contacted the PTA, which oversees online content.

The court also discussed a separate case involving an alleged rape at a college, where Advocate General Punjab Khalid Ishaq stated that despite rumours, no evidence had been found to support the claim. He acknowledged shortcomings in the government's response, noting they had not anticipated such a large public reaction.

In the case of the Punjab University student's suicide, the IGP admitted to failures in the legal process and stated that the cause of death was still undetermined.

The court also directed LCWU to submit a further inquiry report regarding a harassment complaint filed by a student. The relevant individual had already been suspended as part of the investigation.