KARACHI: Students of the Jinnah Sindh Medical University (JSMU) organised a protest demonstration outside the campus on Saturday demanding dismissal of a lecturer for being allegedly involved in sexual harassment.

A large number of male and female students of the varsity took to the streets and protested against the lecturer who they alleged had been subjecting his girl students to sexual harassment since long.

There protest attracted the attention of the JSMU vice chancellor, who assured the protesters of action against the faculty member accused of harassment.

SSP-South Syed Asad Raza said that a girl student recently alleged that a varsity teacher had made indecent advances towards her and later some other girl students came forward against the same teacher alleging that he subjected them to harassment.

He said that the varsity administration had ordered suspension of the teacher but the action did not satisfy the girl students, as they resorted to protest outside the JSMU.

The police held talks with the protesting students and a senior officer called on the VC requesting him to engage the protesters. Later, the students ended their protest after the VC assured them that a ‘disciplinary action’ would be taken against the faculty member.

The SSP said the police asked the victim girls to lodge an FIR to proceed further legally in the case.

Meanwhile, a JSMU spokesperson said in a statement: “An incident of harassment was reported at University’s Campus 2 on September 23. According to the JSMU registrar, the accused has been suspended and a case has been filed before the harassment committee and the disciplinary committee and an inquiry has started.

“JSMU has defined policies for harassment and the procedure for registering complaints is clearly given on its website along with the names and contacts of focal persons. Due process will be followed and findings of the inquiry will be made public,” the spokesperson added.

Published in Dawn, September 25th, 2022