Sargodha
The Provincial Ombudsman has maintained the decision of Sargodha University’s (SU) Syndicate regarding a sacked professor after proven guilty in sexual harassment of a student. The alleged assistant professor was prosecuted under the Act of Protection against Harassment of Women at Workplace.
Rejecting the appeal of professor, the Ombudsman Punjab concluded that forensically verified communication record proved that alluring messages were sent by the accused to the complainant for a considerable period, said a press release issued by the SU here Tuesday. His plea that he had not been heard by the committee was founded against the facts and according to the records submitted by the university which proved his attendance during all hearings and his statements.
In his appeal, the accused failed to point out any illegality or material irregularity during the process of inquiry, so rejected. Dr Sajid Iqbal, ex-Assistant professor of Mathematics at the university’s Bhakkar sub-campus, had filed an appeal at the Office of the Ombudsman (Mohtasib) Punjab, contented that he was not properly heard by the harassment committee and the copies of records were not provided to him. He also contented in his plea that the matter of telephonic messages between the complainant and the appellant was a private matter, instigated by the complainant herself.
