PU teachers trade barbs over harassment issue
Lahore:12 September : The Punjab University's two groups in the faculty on Thursday again traded barbs on the issue of PU Law College lecturer Khujista Rehan's alleged harassment charges against vice-chancellor Prof Dr Mujahid Kamran.
The PU Teachers Front as well as PU Academic Group and Academic Forum held separate meetings. The former termed the harassment charges a propaganda by some elements pursuing their vested interests, while the later demanded that the Punjab government should hold an independent inquiry into the harassment case.
The PU Teachers Front held its general body meeting and condemned the propaganda of some elements, causing serious damages to the repute of the great alma mater and demanded immediate action against them.
Teachers Front secretary Javed Sami stated that the meeting, attended by over 250 teachers, was told that law college lecturer Khujista Rehan was trying to dent the image of the university as well as teachers' community by levelling false allegation of sexual harassment only because she was denied her illegal financial demand.
The meeting was told that the teachers were informed that Ms Rehan went on ex-Pakistan leave for more than a year without permission of the university. It was stated that she could face removal from service but the varsity syndicate took a lenient view and allowed her to join her duties. Later, she also applied for one year salaries and other benefits worth Rs800,000 for the same period, which the PU Syndicate denied.
The meeting urged the university administration to take a strong stance against the malicious campaign and decide all pending cases in the Syndicate on merit.
ACADEMIC GROUP:
The PU Academic Group (AG) and Academic Forum joint meeting chaired by Prof Dr Nasir Ahmed strongly condemned the Teacher's Front for defending the VC's vindictive and hostile attitude towards university teachers, especially harassment being meted out to Ms Rehan.
AG secretary Dr Asmatullah said the Teachers' Front leadership was part and parcel of the administration and was involved in illegal activities like forgery and criminal acts.
Dr Asmatullah stated that the participants of the meeting stressed that the Punjab government should initiate an inquiry against Vice-Chancellor Dr Mujahid Kamran on the charges of harassment of university employees, corruption and gross misconduct. Dawn.
