QUETTA: A division bench of the Balochistan High Court (BHC) comprising Chief Justice Jamal Mandhokhail and Justice Abdullah Baloch on Thursday heard the video scandal case of the University of Balochistan.

The Balochistan Advocate General, the university’s registrar, complainants and their lawyers were present in the court.

Deputy Director of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Cybercrimes Irsalan requested the court to give him two weeks to finalise the investigation report.

Chief Justice Mandhokhail said if proved to be true the scandal will be the biggest tragedy.

In reply to a question of the chief justice, the registrar of the university said hidden cameras spotted in the university had been removed.

When the court asked the registrar why a departmental inquiry was not conducted against those involved in the scandal, he said they were waiting for FIA’s final report.

Justice Mandhokhail said the university was being hijacked ever since the news of sexual harassment scandal came to light.

“Everyone goes to the university with 50 people to become a hero and a patriot,” he remarked.

The chief justice lashed out at the parliamentary committee’s letter to the vice chancellor, with certain directions. “How and why can they send a letter to the vice chancellor, as the chairperson of the committee has no authority to direct the varsity administration,” he said. “None can interfere in the varsity’s affairs.”

He asked the varsity administration to issue cards to its staffers, students, academics and visitors.

On the chief justice’s orders, the university registrar said the biometric system would be installed in the university. He also agreed to make uniform compulsory for students. “The uniforms can put an end to class difference between rich and poor students,” Justice Mandhokhail said.

Additional Advocate General Shaik Baloch informed the court that the registrar who was involved in the scandal had been given a new positing and due to this reason the affected girls were not coming against him.

The registrar told the court that there was minimum presence of personnel of Frontier Corps within the university premises and talks were under way with FC officials to shift them.

The court adjourned the hearing till on Dec 2.

Published in Dawn, November 15th, 2019