No action is being taken despite recommendations of inquiry committees – civil society leaders
Staff Report
Karachi
A number of civil society organizations have demanded removal of Assistant Prof Muhammad Siddique of Department of Mathematics, Federal Urdu University of Science & Technology (FUUAST) from the administrative post of Registrar for harassing the females, and to take action against him under anti-harassment laws.
The demand was made during a press conference by National Trade Union Federation, Home Based Women Workers Federation, Women Democratic Front, Tehrik-e-Niswa and other organizations.
The civil society leaders said that allegations were levelled against female teachers recruited through the Selection Board. A two-member investigation committee comprising Director ORIC Prof Zareena Ali (convener) and Director QEC Dr. Shabbar Raza was formed to probe these allegations. The committee after reviewing all documents and evidences termed the allegations of Muhammad Siddique baseless and declared the female teachers innocent. It recommended that action should be taken against Muhammad Siddique under the Efficiency and Discipline Rules of the University Stealing Government Record, misleading administration and character assassination of the female teachers.
Later, in 2022, the permanent vice chancellor Dr. Athar Atta under office order formed a three-member probe committee comprising Prof Dr. Mahjabeen convenor, Dr. Abdul Majeed, and Saeedia Khaleeq to investigate the allegations levelled on the female teachers.
The committee unanimously, in the light of evidences and witness statements rejected the allegations of Muhammad Siddique as baseless and in its report on June 30, 2023 said that Muhammad Siddique lodged a false and fabricated report, which is violation of the Urdu University Ordinance and Section 9 of the Rules. It further said that as assistant professor Muhammad Siddique harmed the reputation of the university, obtained confidential record of the different departments, carried out character assassination of female teachers on social media, and workplace harassment, he should be made an OSD, and either demoted or sent on compulsory retirement. The committee recommended to start criminal action against Muhammad Siddique under 11 (5) (D) of the Urdu University Ordinance.
However, despite the recommendations of the above mentioned two committees no action was taken against Muhammad Siddique. On this the female teachers of the university lodged compliant and demanded to take action against him as per the recommendations of the committees.
“In the past, accused Muhammad Siddique used to visit houses of many female teachers and threatened their fathers or husbands. He would also share personal documents of the female teachers on social media to harass them. Now after getting the office of the Registrar, he is harassing the female teachers of many departments. In this regard, the chairperson of the department of mathematics has already lodged a complaint,” they said.
The civil society leaders said that more than 70 teachers have signed the demand to transfer the acting registrar FUUAST Muhammad Siddique for hatching conspiracy against the selection board and harassing the female teachers.
They appealed the President of Pakistan and Chancellor of FUUAST Dr. Arif Alvi and federal education minister Madad Ali Sindhi to remove Muhammad Siddique assistant professor department of Mathematics from the office of the Registrar and take legal action against him.
Those who spoke include Kashif Rifat, General Secretary Teachers Association, Asghar Dashti, teacher at FUUAST, Nuzhat Shirin of Sindh Commission on the Status of Women, Zehra Khan of Home Based Women Workers Federation (HBWWF), Uzma Noorani of HRCP and WAF, Sara Khan, Advocate, Dr. Farhan Shafique of Member Senate Federal Urdu University, Sheema Kirmani of Tehrik-e-Niswa, Muhammad Ali Shahwani Advocate member managing committee Sindh High Court Bar Association, Ubedullah Malik Advocate High court organizer of Sindh Dost Lawyers Forum Karachi, Anita Pinjani Chairperson Sindh Vaas Foundation.
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