BAHAWALPUR: The one-man tribunal headed by Mr Justice Sardar Muhammad Sarfraz Dogar on Friday extended the probe into the “scam” of drug abuse and sexual harassment of women students at the Islamia University Bahawalpur (IUB), for a day.

Dawn learnt the tribunal had started the probe into the matter on Monday last, with the judge recording statements of a number of persons on the IUB’s Baghdadul Jadid campus.

Those who recorded their statements during the last five days included government officials, IUB teachers and employees.

Earlier, an announcement had been made by tribunal’s staff officer Maqsood Ahmed asking the public that anybody having any evidence regarding such incidents may come forward to record his/her statement before the tribunal.

However, it is learnt from sources that during the probe no Vlogger or media persons who have been airing shows on the scam surfacing in June this year came forward to provide any evidence in this regard.

Talking to Dawn, the tribunal chief, Justice Dogar said the report of the inquiry would be submitted in due course of time.

He said the probe into the scam was confined to the terms of reference (TORs), which included; (a) to inquire into the matter regarding the drug abuse and sexual harassment of female students at IUB, (b) to ascertain the facts and causes of the incident, (c) to fix the responsibility, thereof and (d)to make recommendations to avert such incidents in future.

It may be recalled that Punjab Governor Balighur Rahman, through a notification, had set up the tribunal on Aug 24,2023.

STRIKE: Local traders and shopkeepers’ organisations have announced their support to the strike call for Saturday (today) against the inflated electricity bills.

Different traders’ bodies in the city announced that on Saturday they would keep their shutters down and observe complete strike to register their protest against the excessive power bills.

Meanwhile, Bahawalpur Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) at its urgent meeting chaired by president Chaudhury Zulfiqar Ali Mann impressed upon the government to withdraw the inflated bills and give concessions to the power consumers.

Besides, the chamber also protested against the increase in the prices of petroleum products and demanded that this injustice to the people should be stopped immediately, withdrawing the increased prices.

Meanwhile, the Jamaat-i-Islami has set up a two-day protest camp in front of the office of Multan Electric Power Company (Mepco) here on Friday against inflated bills and high petroleum prices.

The camp was participated by JI provincial assembly candidates Zeeshan Akhtar, Nasrullah Nasir and large number of party workers.

ACE: The Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) has submitted challan of former principal secretary to the chief minister Muhammad Khan Bhatti for making Rs250 million, allegedly earned through corruption, in a sugar mills in Rahim Yar Khan, in the court of anti-corruption judge here on Friday.

The judge summoned the accused, who is already on bail in this case, but presently in jail in other cases and could not be produced by ACE police.

Published in Dawn, September 2nd, 2023