LAHORE: A fact-finding committee has found a teacher of the Government College University (GCU) guilty of sexually harassing female students.

A member of the Old Ravian Facebook group had posted screenshots and pictures of a teacher of the GCU Physics Department and alleged [quoting a student] that she and her friends were repeatedly failed by the teacher in examinations and were also sexually harassed by him.

The Facebook group member said he decided to speak on behalf of the student who alleged that the teacher wanted to remain in contact with her and her friends.

In the post, the teacher was accused of compelling the students to attend his video calls and one of the students decided to expose him and took some screenshots in which he was shirtless and apparently drunk. The student turned off her Wi-Fi after taking the screenshots while the teacher started making calls on her mobile number and had sent messages asking her to attend the call. The post includes call logs, messages and screenshots of video calls, demanding that Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Asghar Zaidi take notice of the incident. The administration had suspended the teacher after the complaint was lodged against him in July 2020.

Prof Zaidi had ordered an inquiry into the sexual harassment complaint made on behalf of a student against a teacher of Physics Department and constituted a committee that also included a woman member.

On Thursday, the committee had submitted its report to the vice chancellor after a thorough investigation into the allegations.

The teacher was accused of sending ‘immoral’ messages [on WhatsApp] to female students and making video calls as well in inappropriate dress.

Prof Zaidi told Dawn that the committee had submitted its report.

“The report will be forwarded to the anti harassment committee to recommend imposition of penalty on the teacher,” he said.

The VC said the teacher was suspended for all types of duties soon after the filing of complaints against him. Prof Zaidi said the anti-harassment committee would submit its recommendations within a week.

“Action under PEEDA Act will also be taken against the teacher as he is found guilty of harassment,” he said.

The GCU had also terminated a teacher from service on similar charges two years ago.

Published in Dawn, August 28th, 2020