A university lecturer in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Malakand district has been arrested and suspended following allegations of sexually harassing and intimidating a female student, it emerged on Sunday.
Speaking to Dawn.com, Additional Deputy Commissioner Malakand, Azhar Zahoor, confirmed that the suspect was taken into custody after a formal complaint was registered.
“The suspect is currently in jail, and further investigations are ongoing,” he stated.
According to a first information report (FIR) filed on February 4 at Malakand’s Pull Chowki police station, a local woman reported that she was a student at Malakand University’s Urdu department. The case was registered at 4:40 pm, with the alleged incident recorded as occurring at 3:30 pm.
The FIR includes charges under Sections 354 (assault or criminal force with intent to outrage a woman’s modesty), 365B (kidnapping, abduction, or coercion for marriage), and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC). Additionally, Sections 452 (house-trespass with intent to commit an offense) and 511 (attempt to commit an offense punishable with life imprisonment or a shorter term) were also applied.
The complainant alleged that on the day of the incident, the lecturer entered her home, forcibly grabbed her hand, and attempted to drag her away in front of her family. She further claimed that he allegedly left after threatening her with “dire consequences” if she refused to marry him.
In the FIR, she stated: “One of the teachers, a resident of Peshawar, has been following me for several months, attempting to harass and physically assault me. I reported this to the university management multiple times.”
Reiterating details from a university press release, university official Khan said that the institution’s Anti-Harassment Committee had convened and personally heard the victim’s account.
“The committee will formally submit its report with recommendations to the university syndicate for further action,” Khan said, emphasizing that the university upholds a zero-tolerance policy on harassment and is committed to maintaining a safe, fair, and transparent educational environment.
“The University of Malakand is dedicated to ensuring an impartial investigation, and the case will be pursued to its conclusion based on all available evidence,” the press release stated.
Meanwhile, a notification issued by the KP Chief Minister’s Secretariat announced the formation of an inquiry committee to investigate the allegations. The committee includes Additional Secretary Administration Asif Rahim and City Police Officer Sonia Shamroz.
According to the notification, the committee will visit the university, collect relevant facts and statements from all involved parties, and may seek assistance from other individuals, departments, or organizations. The Deputy Commissioner (DC) and District Police Officer (DPO) of Lower Dir have been directed to provide administrative support.
The committee has been tasked with submitting a report within 15 days, detailing the evidence and, if necessary, recommending formal legal action or disciplinary proceedings.
This incident follows other controversies at the University of Malakand. In September 2023, an assistant professor at Government Degree College Malakand accused the university’s pro-vice chancellor of severe physical torture, while the latter countered with an FIR alleging repeated threats.
Additionally, in June 2024, protests erupted after a student died in a road accident following his alleged expulsion from the hostel for playing the rabab on campus. The incident led to sit-ins, exam boycotts, and demands for the dismissal of university officials over alleged mistreatment and psychological harassment of students.
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