IBA Karachi is once again at the center of social media attention after the varsity expelled a student for exposing an alleged incident of harassment that took place on campus. The student, Mohammad Jibrael raised the issue on social media on August 25, and said that he ‘observed a very gross and crappy incident’ in IBA’s Finance Department.
In a Facebook post, Mohammad Jibrael revealed the identity of a male employee who allegedly harassed a female employee of IBA’s Finance Department. He said that he witnessed the incident with his own eyes and was shocked to see that a man could behave like that with a woman in a professional setting.
In another post, he shared updates and said that he has reported the incident to the Anti-Harassment Committee of IBA, however he didn’t receive any feedback from them. One month later, the varsity expelled him and issued a statement on IBA’s Facebook page that Jibrael did not use the “right channels that are expected to be followed” by the institute.
IBA Karachi is in hot waters. Again!
This has caused an uproar on social media and lawyer and activist Mohammad Jibran Nasir also highlighted the expulsion. He said:
“By expelling Jibrael, #IBA has sent a msg to all female staff/students that they should never rely on any eye witness if they face #harassment as anyone who speaks up like Jibrael will be expelled and at the same time it has told it is teaching it students to stay quiet and keep your head down when you witness injustice.”
It is also worthy to note here that over the last four weeks, hundreds of students have protested against harassment and Jibrael’s wrongful expulsion, but the authorities at IBA Karachi have turned a blind eye.
Shame on @ibakarachi for expelling a student for exposing harassment of a female staff member by a male staff member. It'snot the student who defamed IBA, it is IBA which is defaming rather exposing itself which this step. A student's career has been ruined for speaking truth. pic.twitter.com/8CRDoxaRER
— M. Jibran Nasir 🇵🇸 (@MJibranNasir) September 29, 2021
Netizens are enraged at the ‘gross overreaction’ of the institute and several celebrities and politicians have also lent their support.
Jibrael from Lakki marwat expelled from @ibakarachi for exposing a male staff harassing a female staff. His crime was to speak against injustice & women’s right. Disgusted & appalled by this action by #IBAKarachi pic.twitter.com/B1YSHMBIiW
— Dr. Sharmila sahibah faruqui (Phd) s.i (@sharmilafaruqi) September 30, 2021
Shameful. Sad. #IBAKarachi @ibakarachi https://t.co/GC8DID63i9
— Mahira Khan (@TheMahiraKhan) September 30, 2021
Absolutely terrible & shameful explanation by @ibakarachi. Keep up with the times rather than archaic colonial notions of secrecy & bureaucratic procedures esp regarding harassment that impacts a wider community. @EDIBAKarachi this tone-dead response worsens IBA’s reputation. Sad https://t.co/9TQaWjeT84
— Usama Khilji (@UsamaKhilji) September 29, 2021
Expelling final semester student for standing against harassment. Such a pathetic behavior from the authorities of iba.#stopshelteringharassers #SocialMediaIsOurRight #WeWantJustice #PracticeWhatYouPreach#IBAkarachi pic.twitter.com/VflUurGvUk
— Shahan Majid (@MajidShahan) September 28, 2021
There is no way IBA can be allowed to get away with this. Shame on this institution that's trying to defend harrasement. All those involved must be punished! #wewantjustice #SoicalMediaIsOurRight #stopshelteringharassers #PracticeWhatYouPreach #IBAkarachi pic.twitter.com/FJeeohWwzH
— Salman Hyder (@S_WtofArsenal) September 28, 2021
Leadership requires knowing the rules but not being blindly tied to them. Flexibility, challenging status quo, doing the right thing…all are leadership essentials. If #IBAkarachi is still about leadership & ideas for tmw, a reminder that the autocratic style is long obsolete
— MadihaSaeed (@MadihaSSheikh) September 29, 2021
This is quite low blow from IBA. Harassment issues should have been taken more vigilantly and all voices should have been heard even it were on social media.
Same rule applies to Jami harassment. His enquiry report has still not being made public by Dawn.— Rashid Rafiq (@rashidrafiq1975) September 29, 2021
This is a gross overreaction from IBA which must be set right. Such measures can and will only backfire. https://t.co/Ig888hvn8m
— Zarrar Khuhro (@ZarrarKhuhro) September 29, 2021
