FAISALABAD, Aug 29: The Government College University Faisalabad (GCUF) communication department director has been terminated on the charge of sexually assaulting a staff member, Dawn learnt on Friday.

Sources told this correspondent that a female employee of the university submitted an application to GCUF Vice-Chancellor Dr Arif Ali Zaidi, alleging that Director Communications Latif Bhatti took her to his home to do some technical job, where he sexually assaulted her and subjected her to severe torture on resistance.

The girl also appeared before the VC and apprised him of the criminal activity. Realising the gravity of the situation, sources said, the VC immediately offered her assistance in medical treatment, which the victim rejected. Dr Zaidi immediately convened a meeting of his subordinates, Registrar Sheikh Zahoor Ahmad, security chief Abbas Shah and others and discussed the issue with them. The members suggested termination of the ‘wrongdoer’ to discourage any such happening in future. The university administration terminated the official and decided that the victim should continue to perform her duties for the time being.

The GCUF had hired the services of Mr Bhatti on a contract some six months ago against a handsome package. Earlier, he had been serving the Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited from where he retired a couple of months ago.

Meanwhile, the girl’s mother had been repeatedly visiting the university and asking the administration to call the perpetrator, but to no avail, said sources.

They further revealed that actually the incident took place at Bhatti’s office on the university campus and some staffers rescued the girl after listening to her hue and cry. The officials immediately informed the administration about the incident.

The VC, however, dispelled the impression that incident took place on the campus. He said the victim had claimed in her application that Latif committed the crime at his residence where she had gone with him.

The girl’s mother said she (her daughter) had been tortured at Bhatti’s office. She said her daughter had scars of wounds on her face, which prompted the administration to act against the officer.

According to sources, the girl had “misstated about the crime scene on the instructions of the management which assured her of justice.”

A female staff member of the university said torture marks on the girl’s face were visible and she was bitterly weeping after the incident.

The vice-chancellor confirmed that Bhatti had been sacked. “The administration took no time in terminating him after learning about the event,” he said, with a stern warning that the varsity administration would not tolerate any wrongdoing in future.