HED launches probe into lecturer's suicide over harassment charge.

Byline: Imran Gabol

LAHORE -- The Punjab Higher Education Department on Monday constituted a four-member committee to probe into the suicide matter of MAO College lecturer Muhammad Afzal and sexual harassment allegations against him.

HED Secretary Sajid Zafar Dall appointed University of Okara Vice Chancellor Prof Zakria Zakar as the convener of the committee whose other members include the registrar Lahore College for Women University, principal of the Govt PG College Township, Lahore, and deputy secretary (Establishment Male) of the HED.

The committee has been directed to submit its report within seven days. It would hold its first meeting at 11am today (Tuesday).

Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar also took notice of the incident and sought a report.

Meanwhile, Dr Aaliya Rehman Khan, the dean of sciences of MAO College, who held enquiry into charges of sexual harassment against Afzal has accused college principal Dr Farhan Ibadat Yar of misleading the media about the matter and also pressurising her to endorse his stance.

Muhammad Afzal, the lecturer in English at the MAO College, had allegedly committed suicide after consuming poisonous pills for not getting the certificate after the enquiry that had found him innocent and proved wrong sexual harassment allegations leveled against him by a girl student on July 8, 2019. The college administration had conducted an enquiry into the incident under Dr Aaliya, which had concluded that Afzal had not harassed anyone.

Mr Afzal kept demanding the clearance certificate reportedly from the principal of the college and the chairman of the anti-harassment committee but he was not entertained. He was informed that the report had been submitted to the principal's office on July 13, 2019.

Mr Afzal tried to get the report and clearance certificate for more than three months but in vain. His wife left him on Oct 8 and he committed suicide on Oct 9, 2019 after writing a note for Dr Aaliya that he was leaving the matter to God. The death of the lecturer had raised several questions. The matter was reported in the media and in a media report, Dr Aaliya said it was not her responsibility to issue the clearance certificate to Afzal while the principal was responsible for it. On the other hand, Mr Yar had the similar stance, saying that the matter was responsibility of Dr Aaliya.

Now, Dr Aaliya had lodged a complaint against Farhan Ibadat Yar before the secretary HED.

The complaint, available with Dawn, states...