A sexual harassment scandal is rocking the university’s Bahawalnagar campus

BAHAWALNAGAR:

An incident of sexual harassment has surfaced at the Islamia University Bahawalnagar Campus where a female student defied the administration’s attempts to cover up the matter, leading to the arrest of a lecturer.

The student filed a complaint against a teacher from the Physical Education Department, Nadeem Ahmed, accusing him of sending inappropriate videos and harassing her repeatedly.

According to the First Information Report (FIR) filed with Bahawalnagar’s City B Division police station, Ahmed called the student to his office, held her hand and made unwanted advances.

He also allegedly threatened her with bad grades and possible expulsion if she did not meet his demands.

The student initially filed a complaint with the university’s Anti-Harassment Cell, but according to the FIR, the administration tried to suppress the matter without taking timely or effective action.

Only after she filed her case with the police did a formal investigation begin, resulting in Ahmed’s arrest. Following the registration of the FIR, the administration of Islamia University Bahawalpur (IUB), under whose jurisdiction the Bahawalnagar Campus falls, issued a press release.

Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Muhammad Kamran has suspended Nadeem Ahmed from his position and initiated an investigation.

The statement emphasized that an Anti-Harassment Committee has been established, in line with the policy of the Higher Education Commission (HEC), and assured that the investigation would be conducted in a transparent manner.

The university vowed to take swift action if Ahmed is found guilty, with a report expected within 30 days.

This is not the first time that the Bahawalnagar Campus has been embroiled in controversy. University sources revealed that the suspect was involved in other incidents of sexual harassment against female students.

A student from the same department, on condition of anonymity, said she had also been harassed by Ahmed for several months. Despite her parents providing evidence to the campus principal in March 2024, no action was taken against the teacher.

The student’s report confirmed that the university’s Anti-Harassment Cell had previously found Ahmed guilty, resulting in a three-month suspension without pay. However, the university’s failure to effectively address the issue allowed him to resume his duties.

Recently, a major scandal at Islamia University Bahawalpur involved drug trafficking and harassment of female students, leading to arrests of influential university officials.

Reacting to the harassment case, Vice Chancellor Dr. Kamran assured the public that the university is committed to ensuring a safe environment for all students.

He reiterated that harassment in any form will not be tolerated, and any employee found guilty will face serious consequences.

The VC emphasized that the university’s Anti-Harassment Committee operates in accordance with HEC guidelines and would ensure a thorough and impartial investigation.