Harassment charges: QAU syndicate issues showcause to two faculty members

The syndicate of Quaid-i-Azam University (QAU) on Friday issued showcause notices to two faculty members charged with sexual harassment and directed them to submit their written reply to the competent authority in 7 days. The syndicate will meet again on August 20, 2011 to discuss and give final decision in the two sexual harassment cases, spokesperson of the University told Business Recorder.
The 156th meeting of the QAU syndicate, the highest decision-making body of the university was held here under the chairmanship of Vice Chancellor Professor Dr Masoom Yasinzai. It was decided in the meeting that the syndicate is designated as the "competent authority" under the clause 2(d) of the Protection against Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace Act 2010 to implement the decision of the inquiry committee.
The inquiry committee on the two cases was formed under the anti-harassment law passed in December last year, and submitted its recommendations to the syndicate, made up of parliamentarians, senior faculty members and Higher Education Commission (HEC) representatives.
Vice Chancellor (VC) QAU Professor Dr Masoom Yasinzai told Business Recorder that the four-member inquiry committee has a legal standing. It has studied the two harassment cases in QAU and submitted its recommendations to the syndicate for implementation. The committee comprising senior most and non-controversial faculty members including Chemistry Department Chairman Dr Saqib Ali, National Institute of Psychology Director Dr Anila Kamal, Campus Manager Colonel Nadeem Gill (r) and Department of Biochemistry Professor Dr Wasim had 30 days to share its findings.
Sharing the details of the meeting, the VC said the committee recommended that the controller examination should be sent on forced retirement with full benefits. However, the services of the IT lecturer, whose case was of a more severe nature, should be terminated immediately, the VC added. However, after deliberations, the syndicate gave another chance to the accused and directed them to submit their reply, Yasinzai maintained.