Governor Punjab Muhammad Balighur Rehman has asked vice chancellors of public and private sector universities to evolve a mechanism to report and respond incidents of sexual harassment. In the letter issued here, inquiry committees should be notified in the light of relevant provisions of the Protection against Harassment of Women at Workplace Act 2010 and the HEC policy on protection against sexual harassment in higher educational institutions.
In case, according to contents of the letter, these committees have already been notified, steps should be taken to make them proactive and efficient in disposal of such cases. The Governor Punjab said all complaints of sexual harassment should be sent to these committees with instructions to complete the inquiry in 45 days as per the guidelines of the said policy and act. He has directed to put in place an effective mechanism to report and respond to incidents of sexual harassment in universities. According to the letter, it has been made mandatory to appoint a senior female faculty member as focal person in the universities. The letter emphasized that strict measures should be taken to prevent incidents of sexual harassment.
The letter further emphasized that it will be the responsibility of the university administration to make students fully aware of the code of conduct. It further said that it will be the responsibility of the concerned university to immediately address the complaint of sexual harassment by facilitating the complaint mechanism. The Governor Punjab said all universities will be bound to make the monitoring system effective. He said that the policy and procedures of reporting such complaints must be publically and readily available to the people with Urdu translation and, if possible, in other local languages.
Governor Punjab Muhammad Balighur Rehman met a delegation comprising Ulema, Mashaikh belonging to different schools of thought, and Christian, Hindu and Sikh religious leaders led by Pir Nazim Hussain Shah at Governors House, here.
During the meeting, religious scholars and religious leaders belonging to minorities expressed grief and sorrow over the desecration of the Holy Quran in Jaranwala and in response to it the burning of churches and houses. Bishop Sebastian Shaw was also present in the meeting. According to a press release, Governor Punjab Muhammad Balighur Rehman said, “Today we have all gathered for a reference of condemnation on the Jaranwala incident.” He said that he would like to thank the Muslim community who delivered essential items to the Christian brothers and sisters after the Jaranwala incident and also the scholars who opened mosques for the Christian community. The Governor of Punjab said that all religions, including Islam, teach peace, tolerance, and brotherhood.
He said that scholars have a key role in inter-faith harmony.
He said that Islam had spread in the subcontinent through the message of love and peace of Ulema and Sufis. He said that the Christian community has rendered unforgettable services in various fields, including education, health, defense, and law in Pakistan.
He further said that minorities are equal citizens in the country according to the constitution of Pakistan. He said that the government of Pakistan is committed to the rights of minorities and those responsible for both incidents will be identified and punished. He said that the Punjab government has started handing over the churches to the Christian community by restoring them in a better condition than before. Bishop Sebastian Shaw thanked the government and the Muslim community for their solidarity with the Christian community.
