KARACHI: The Dow University of Health Sciences has suspended a fourth-year medical student from university for two years on charges of sexually harassing a fellow female student, it emerged on Wednesday.

A sexual harassment inquiry was initiated against the fourth-year MBBS student at the Dow Medical College, on a complaint filed against him on Sept 5.

“He was afforded a chance to submit a written defence and appear for a personal hearing to explain his position before the inquiry committee,” an order issued on Wednesday said, adding that the student appeared before the committee on Sept 14.

It said that the committee found him guilty of “committing the acts of sexual harassment” within the meaning of Section 2 (h) of the Protection Against Harassment of Women at the Workplace Act, 2010 and the Higher Education Commission’s Policy on Protection Against Sexual Harassment in Higher Education Institutions.

The committee submitted its recommendation to the DUHS Vice Chancellor Prof Muhammad Saeed Quraishy, who decided to impose the penalty of “suspension from the university” for two years with immediate effect.

The order stated that during the two-year period, the student “is prohibited from entering any of the university premises”.

It also ordered all societies/volunteer groups/bodies in DUHS to remove him from their membership and activities.

Published in Dawn, September 22nd, 2022