PESHAWAR: The provincial ombudsperson for protection against harassment of women at workplace has recommended removal from service of Dr Amirullah, the chairman of political science department at Islamia College University, on charges of harassment.

A student of ICU had in November 2020 approached the ombudsperson for protection against harassment of women at workplace with a complaint against Dr Amirullah.

The ombudsperson, Rukhshanda Naz, after proceedings of inquiry recommended the competent authority to remove Dr Amirullah from service under section 4(II)(c) of Protection Against Harassment of Women at Workplace Act, 2010 in the best interest of an educational institution.

The order noted that under section 10-2(h) of the Act, other sanctions, as deemed appropriate, in accordance with the terms of employment policies should be considered part and parcel of the above mentioned sanctions.

“This is hard to take such action against a teacher, who is considered to be a custodian of an educational institution but the current atmosphere of the educational institution is not conducive for victims of sexual harassment,” said the order.

It said that since the complainant was not only harassed, she also faced character assassination on social media and in the defence submitted by the accused and senior management of the university.

The order also castigated the management of the university, saying it committed negligence to approach the cyber crime unit for forensic of the malicious campaign run on social media rather both respondents tried to use such material against the complainant.

The order notes that the accused had called the student to his office where he allegedly tried to hold her hand and asked her for friendship.

Amanullah Marwat, counsel for the accused, said that the accused should be exonerated of all allegations because a committee of the university dismissed the allegations of the complainant.

Published in Dawn, April 14th, 2021