LAHORE: The Government College University (GCU) Syndicate has dismissed a lecturer of Physical Education Programme from service after finding him guilty of subjecting a female student to sexual harassment.

An MSc student had lodged a complaint with the varsity administration against Physical Education Programme lecturer Javed Bajwa, accusing him of making physical advances and sending objectionable text messages to her, some five months ago.

The administration had forwarded the complaint to the Anti Harassment Committee formed under the Protection Against Harassment of Women at Workplace Act 2010.

The committee had called both the complainant and the accused for inquiry.

After holding several meetings, the committee gave its findings on the basis of the evidences produced by the both sides and statements of the complainant, witnesses and the accused, observing the lecturer failed to defend himself against the charges.

It had suggested to the varsity administration to impose maximum penalty on the accused. The administration, acting upon the recommendation, placed the issue in its 57th Syndicate meeting.

A varsity notification available with Dawn states the Syndicate, being competent authority, in its 57th meeting held on July 7 unanimously decided to impose major penalty of “Dismissal from Service” upon Mr Javed Bajwa, lecturer, Physical Education Programme under the provision 4(4)(ii)(d) of The Protection Against Harassment of Women at Workplace Act 2010 with effect from July 7, 2018, (the date of decision of the Syndicate).

Published in Dawn, August 2nd, 2018