Strike called off: KIU to probe assistant professor’s alleged misconduct
Students demand varsity sack teacher for allegedly thrashing student.
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GILGIT:
The Karakoram International University (KIU) has formed a committee to probe assistant professor Sadat Sher Khan’s alleged misconduct, following which protesting students called off their demonstrations on Tuesday.
The varsity’s students had been protesting outside the campus since Monday, accusing Khan of beating up junior year student Ishtiaq Hussain for no reason. The protesters chanted slogans against the administration and blocked the campus entrance for the entire day. This led to the cancellation of a scheduled examination.
In his complaint filed with the police on Friday, Hussain said Khan verbally abused and thrashed him on campus, with help from security guards. He accused the professor of being under the influence of an intoxicant and said Khan got infuriated after spotting him and his friends on campus. “Khan is an influential man. Let’s see if the Vice Chancellor Dr Muhammad Asif Khan takes action or not,” said a KIU student.
Talking to the media, university spokesperson Shahid Shigri confirmed the incident and said the administration has begun investigation. “The students ended the protest after the committee’s formation,” he said, adding the cancelled examination has been rescheduled.
Administrative shortcomings and internal politics have largely marred Gilgit-Baltistan’s only university which was established under a charter of the federal government in 2002.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 22nd, 2015.
The Karakoram International University (KIU) has formed a committee to probe assistant professor Sadat Sher Khan’s alleged misconduct, following which protesting students called off their demonstrations on Tuesday.
The varsity’s students had been protesting outside the campus since Monday, accusing Khan of beating up junior year student Ishtiaq Hussain for no reason. The protesters chanted slogans against the administration and blocked the campus entrance for the entire day. This led to the cancellation of a scheduled examination.
In his complaint filed with the police on Friday, Hussain said Khan verbally abused and thrashed him on campus, with help from security guards. He accused the professor of being under the influence of an intoxicant and said Khan got infuriated after spotting him and his friends on campus. “Khan is an influential man. Let’s see if the Vice Chancellor Dr Muhammad Asif Khan takes action or not,” said a KIU student.
Talking to the media, university spokesperson Shahid Shigri confirmed the incident and said the administration has begun investigation. “The students ended the protest after the committee’s formation,” he said, adding the cancelled examination has been rescheduled.
Administrative shortcomings and internal politics have largely marred Gilgit-Baltistan’s only university which was established under a charter of the federal government in 2002.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 22nd, 2015.