Harassment charges: Hazara varsity official transferred to Haripur

" We have not found any substantial proof of harassment of the girls by the HOD, says<br /> Inquiry Committee member.

MANSEHRA:

Following the complaints of harassment of girl students at the Hazara University, Vice Chancellor (VC) Syed Sakhawat Ali Shah ordered the transfer of the head of the arts and design department to the Haripur campus. He was asked to report to the coordinator Haripur campus.

Meanwhile, Prof Zainul Wahab of Conservation Studies department would be made the new head the art and design department, according to official handout issued from the office the VC.

On Thursday, some girl students accused the former HOD of the arts and design department and a visiting faculty member of harassing them.

On their complaint the VC had ordered probe into the matter and a five-member committee headed by Communications and Media Studies Department Chairman Prof Syed Shokat Ali Shah submitted its report to the VC here on Friday.

Although the contents of report were not made public, yet according to informed sources, the committee found some academic slackness which resulted into grouping and instigating the students to start accusing the HOD.

“We have not found any substantial proof of harassment,” said one of the committee members requesting anonymity. The source said that there was some internal politics in the department that caused differences between the teachers who further used the students to their advantage.

However, according to source since HOD was guilty of some academic slackness. The committee recommended his immediate transfer to protect the peaceful environment of the varsity.

Meanwhile, the university students staged a rally, chanting slogans against the former HOD and VC demanding immediate termination of HOD. They also threatened to block Shahrah- e- Resham if their demands were not met.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 30^th, 2012.