LAHORE, June 20: The Punjab University Academic Staff Association has expressed its grief and anger over reinstatement of Dr Iftikhar Hussain Baloch, who was found guilty of sexual harassment.

In a statement issued here on Thursday, PUASA president Prof Dr Ahsan Sharif and secretary Javed Sami termed Punjab Governor/ Chancellor’s decision was a violation of the 18th Amendment.

The PUASA leaders stated that the PU teachers had also passed a unanimous resolution and demanded that the Punjab Chief Minister should withdraw the decision.

The PUASA leaders stated that PU College of Earth and Environmental Sciences’ Prof Dr Iftikhar Baloch was dismissed under PEEDA Act on the recommendations of an inquiry committee and a special commission headed by Deputy Inspector General of Punjab Police Amlish on his involvement in a sexual harassment case.

In the light of a Supreme Court decision and under PEEDA Act, they said, a dismissed employee could lodge an application for reinstatement with the Services Tribunal only. The teachers pointed out that the decision of reinstatement of Dr Baloch was not only a violation of the 18th amendment but also against the decision of Supreme Court and PEEDA Act.

They said female teachers of the Punjab University had also showed their anger against the decision and expressed their reservations in the general body meeting.

When contacted, Dr Baloch said PU Governor/Chancellor had reinstated him following a long process as he had applied for the setting aside of the PU Syndicate decision some two years ago.

He said the Lahore High Court had allowed that the chancellor could hear his grievance. He said the governor appointed a hearing officer, who heard his complaint and reported that the PU had not followed rules and regulations while dismissing him from service.

He said the chancellor had reinstated him on June 11 and he submitted his joining on June 12 but the VC did not allow him to join. “The PU VC has also written to the Institute of Geology director that the university did not accept the so-called joining of Dr Baloch,” he claimed. — Staff Reporter