The Higher Education Commission (HEC) has taken a proactive step to address the harassment case involving students and faculty at the Islamia University of Bahawalpur by forming a Fact-Finding Committee.
Diverse and Eminent Committee Members Appointed
The committee comprises distinguished members from various universities, including Bahauddin Zakariya University Multan and Noor International University, Lahore, to ensure an unbiased investigation.
Comprehensive Inquiry and Corrective Actions
The committee’s task is to conduct a thorough inquiry, gather information from multiple sources, and assess the implementation of HEC’s sexual harassment policy within higher education institutions.
The HEC encourages full cooperation from all higher education institutions during the investigation and expects detailed reports within 21 days.
The appointed committee members, including Professor Dr. Muhammad Ali, Lieutenant General (Retd.) Muazzam Ijaz, Professor Dr. Najma Najam, Professor Dr. Tahira Aziz Mughal, and Dr. Mazhar Saeed, have already received their notifications, and the terms of reference for the committee have been issued.
The committee’s primary responsibility is to ensure a comprehensive and unbiased investigation into the allegations of harassment. To achieve this, they will gather information and details from various sources, including print, electronic, and social media, conducting thorough investigations.
In addition to investigating the specific case, the committee will also assess the implementation of the HEC’s policy on sexual harassment within higher education institutions. If any administrative lapses that might have contributed to harassment are identified, the committee will recommend corrective and disciplinary actions.
The HEC emphasizes the significance of cooperation from all higher education institutions during the inquiry process and urges them to provide detailed reports within 21 days.
To ensure the committee members’ dedication and commitment to this vital task, appropriate compensation for their services will be provided, and all relevant expenses will be borne by the HEC.
