SBBU VC, lecturer resign over sexual harassment allegation

E-Paper | July 30, 2026

SBBU VC, lecturer resign over sexual harassment allegation

Zulfiqar Memon Published October 10, 2018

"Justice prevailed at last," Farzana Jamali, an SBBU final-year student who accused two university officials of harassment, says. ─ Dawn/File

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NAWABSHAH: Two accused in the sexual harassment case of a girl student, Shaheed Benazir Bhutto University (SBBU) Nawabshah Vice Chancellor (VC) Arshad Saleem and English department head Amir Khattak, tendered their resignations on Tuesday.

Farzana Jamali, a SBBU final-year student, had accused the two of harassment and lodged an FIR against them on Sept 4, 2018, in which the accused had obtained pre-arrest interim bail. Amir Khattak is the main accused in the case.

Addressing the Sindh chief minister in his resignation, the VC said he was under tremendous mental stress and pressure. He was submitting his resignation to facilitate 100 per cent free and fair justice, he added.

According to sources, the latest development in the case, which started 42 days ago, was due to the intervention of an MPA and senior leader of the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) who met Farzana Jamali and her father at Nawabshah on Monday.

“Justice prevailed at last”, Farzana Jamali told reporters. She was protesting outside Nawabshah Press Club for justice with the support of various political parties, including the Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz, Sindh Taraqqi-pasand Party, Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf and others.

It was not only her victory, but also of every female student, she said and vowed to continue her education.

Farzana said she went through trauma, her father was sent to jail in a “fake” case and then her brother was arrested in a “fictitious” case of bomb blast.

She demanded of the government for a neutral inquiry in the case of her brother Zuhaib Jamali who was in the custody of the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) Hyderabad.

Earlier, an enquiry committee was also constituted by the Sindh CM after a series of protests by the victim, her family, political parties and civil society. But the committee headed by Prof Abdul Qadeer gave a clean chit to the VC and the lecturer, concluding that no sexual harassment was proved.

Farzana also accused a senior Sindh minister of supporting the vice chancellor.

Published in Dawn, October 10th, 2018

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Leoman

Oct 10, 2018 10:10am

But there must be a legal punishment too.And to that committee members too who gave report to Sindh CM of all okay.

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abuzar

Oct 10, 2018 11:32am

At last some form of justice. InshaAllah things will improve more rapidly. salute to the family.

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Ramay.

Oct 10, 2018 04:33pm

Punish the culprits sindh Govt,to encourage female higher education in Sindh.This feudal terrorism should stop now. Education can only sustain in a secure atmosphere.

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Oct 10, 2018 08:25pm

Resignation means acceptance of guilt. Interesting the old boys network based inquiry found no evidence. The inquiry team should be disciplined for ignoring facts.

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Ahsan Gul

Oct 10, 2018 09:01pm

Climate is changing in our beloved Pakistan when public is brave and outspoken. I must thank to PTI to give impetus to our public to stand up to their rights. No dictator or group of politicians can suppress public when public come out in streets.

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Jalbani Baloch

Oct 10, 2018 10:43pm

Good move on the part of VC and the Head of the English Department in order to allow an impartial inquiry into the allegations leveled by a student against these teachers. The Govt. of Sindh should appoint a powerful inquiry committee to probe into the matter without any favor or fear and give a report within a period of 15 days. The allegations are proved, then strict punished should be given to those accused, otherwise, VC and the Head of the English Department should be reinstated in their jobs with all perks and privileges and the girl, who made these serious allegations against her teachers should be resuscitated from the University for a period of not less than five years.

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Mumtaz Ahmed Shah

Oct 11, 2018 10:29am

We salute to Farzana Jamali to fight for justice and to defeat nepotism . We endorse her demand for a neutral inquiry of her brother who was in the custody of the counter Terrorism Deptt.(CTD ) Hyderabad.The committee who gave a clean chit to the accused should be punished and charged sheet .The accused who did crime must be arrested and sent behind the bar after due process of law.Their services must be dismissed instead of their resignations. (Texas)

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Ramzanali Panjwani

Oct 11, 2018 10:34am

@Leoman Fully agree with you, @Leoman. Also like to add, VC and Lecturer simply resigned & were announced Innocent by a Committee headed by another Professor of the same University! Such precedence would encourage the Culprits & such other elements to indulge into sexual harassment and similar other nefarious activities and would go Scot free with the help of influential higher-ups! Thus, setting bad example in and around pious Educational Institutes & similar other places! Moreover, No legal procedure/action after Sept.04 FIR. Meanwhile pressurizing the Victim by punishing her Father & taking her brother in Custody on fictitious allegations; thus making her life miserable for 42 continuous days! Thus, resulting into her agreeing to announce at Nawabshah Press Club, "Justice prevailed at last"! All this leaves a very bad impression for our relevant Govt. dept.s, specially Justice Dept. and No patriot would like to see or hear such matters! May Good Sense prevail to improve upon such situations sooner rather than later!!!

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