Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Shah Farman has called for the University of Malakand to investigate a sexual harassment complaint against one of their faculty members. The complaint against the professor was filled by a Chinese student.
It’s so unfortunate that it took a Governor’s order to have the university management comply with the law.
Following incidents like that in Gomal University, educational institutes ought to be more diligent about issues like these.
Good thing that Governor Shah Farman has ordered an inquiry.
“It is very serious issue and we have already taken action in Gomal University as well. No one would be spared if found guilty because people pose trust in us while sending their children to educational institutions.”
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Under the federal ‘Protection Against Harassment of Women in the Workplace Act 2010‘ a three-member inquiry committee is supposed to investigate harassment complaints.
Following KP Governor’s orders, University of Malakand formed a five-member inquiry committee to investigate the issue. Vice-Chancellor University of Malakand Gul Zaman revealed the committee is already probing the matter.
According to The News though, the accused professor has rejected the allegations made by Min Zhou as baseless.
Fight or Flight
As part of the legal process, the committee must record the complainant’s statement. One problem though, Min Zhou has returned to China.
It is reported that the Chinese student filed a complaint against the professor once she was back home.
After spending several months in Pakistan, Min Zhou left and did not file a complaint until she was back home. This raises the question, was the Chinese student that fearful that she had no choice but to flee?
According to reports, the Chinese student, Min Zhou was invited by the accused or professor to enroll in the University of Malakand’s English department for her MPhil.
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Yet classes could not begin. This raises an issue of another administrative failure. Why were services that cannot be provided advertised in the first place?
It was alleged that she was appointed as a lab attendant at University Public School Chakdara on a salary of Rs 900 per day by the accused.
After spending almost six to seven months in Pakistan, Min Zhou went back to China. Once she was in her home country she filed a complaint to the Chinese Embassy and University of Malakand administration, accusing the professor of sexually harassing her.
