Sexual harassment: QAU terminates services of two faculty members

Endorsing the recommendations of the inquiry committee, the syndicate of Quaid-i-Azam University (QAU) on Saturday terminated services of two faculty members against whom there were charges of sexual harassment. The 157th meeting of the QAU syndicate, the highest decision-making body of the university, was held here on Saturday under the chairmanship of Vice Chancellor, Professor Dr Masoom Yasinzai.
The syndicate met here to discuss the replies of the two faculty members. After deep deliberation, the body gave its final decision in the two sexual harassment cases, spokesperson of the university told Business Recorder. Sharing the details of the meeting, the spokesperson said that the syndicate sent controller examination on forced retirement and terminated services of IT lecturer with immediate effect.
In its last meeting held on July 29, the body had issued show cause notice to two faculty members charged with sexual harassment. As a last chance to the accused, the syndicate directed them to submit their written reply to the competent authority within seven days against the charges levelled against them.
Earlier, a four-member inquiry committee was formed on the two cases under the anti-harassment law passed in December last year, which submitted its recommendations to the syndicate, including parliamentarians, senior faculty members and Higher Education Commission (HEC) representatives.
The inquiry committee comprised 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 (Retd) and Department of Biochemistry Professor, Dr Wasim who had to submit their findings within 30 days. The committee had 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.