Islamabad:Quaid-i-Azam University(QAU) Vice Chancellor, (VC) Dr. Masoom Yasinzai has sent the examination controller, who was allegedly involved in the molestation of a female student, on forced leave, well-placed sources told ‘The News’.

According to sources, the examination controller has been asked on Friday not to attend his office until the finalisation of the inquiry report. The inquiry committee, in its remarks, has requested the VC for more time for a balanced and fair inquiry into the case.

The university has constituted a committee, including QAU National Institute of Psychology Director Dr. Anila Kamal, Chemistry Department Chairman Dr. Saqib Ali, Department of Biochemistry Professor Dr. Wasim and Campus Manager Colonel (r) Nadeem Gill. “The committee, in its final remarks, has asked the VC to extend the date for submission of the final report as there were some factors which need more time for investigation. The VC has extended the deadline,” said sources.

Sources said that the legal adviser of the VC and others close to him strongly recommended sending the examination controller on leave to avoid any controversy. “The statements of both the victim and alleged culprit have already been recorded by the committee,” sources revealed.

Talking to ‘The News,’ QAU Gender Studies Department Head Farzana Bari said that the findings of the committee should have come by now. “If the statements have been recorded than what is the point in delaying the process,” she said.

She, however, maintained that one should not be impatient and wait till the inquiry committee presents its report. “We will look for other options if the constituted committee fails to present its report by next week or the findings of the committee are not acceptable to the victim,” she said.

She said that the family of the victim was considering it a social responsibility to pursue the case, as they don’t want other girls to fall victim to such practices. “The brother and cousins of the victim have been visiting the campus and asking the concerned authorities to expedite the process of investigation,” she said.

She revealed that the family members of the victim are being pressurised by different quarters to take the case back but they were determined to follow it until it reaches its logical end.

It is pertinent to mention here that the federal ombudsperson has taken notice of the incident in which a female student of the Quaid-i-Azam University was allegedly molested by the examination controller and ordered the university to provide preliminary report of the incident within three days. However, the report could not be presented to the federal ombudsperson till the last reports.

QAU Vice Chancellor Dr. Masoom Yasinzai, when contacted by ‘The News,’ said that the examination controller has been sent on forced leave on the recommendation of the inquiry committee. “The committee, which we have constituted to probe into the case of the alleged molestation, has recommended that the man who was allegedly involved in molestation should be sent on leave to avoid any untoward situation,” he said.

He said that initially the timeframe for investigation was one week, which has been extended on the request of the inquiry committee members. “We want a fair and transparent inquiry into the case. The report of the committee findings will be made public,” he said.
The news.