PESHAWAR: The management of Islamia College University Peshawar on Sunday terminated the services of an assistant professor on charges of harassing a female student.

The administration terminated the faculty member in light of the findings of a probe committee and approval of the syndicate, official sources told Dawn.

The committee had concluded its probe within four days which was moved before the university`s syndicate onSaturday for approval, the sources said. The syndicate approved the termination of the assistant professor, which was notified on Sunday.

Earlier, the female student had submitted a formal complaint of harassment against a faculty member, according to a statement issued by the university.

`The university`s inquiry committee promptly launched and concluded a comprehensive investigation,` the statement said.

Following the committee`s findings and further evaluation, Vice-Chancellor Dr Ziaul Haq took immediate action byterminating the faculty member from service, according to the statement.

Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur and minister for education Meena Khan Afridi praised the vice-chancellor for prompt action.

`Harassment in higher education institutions is unacceptable. This swift and resolute action has been widely appreciated by faculty, students, and the broader public, and it has significantly reinforced the credibility of Islamia College University and Pakistan`s higher education sector as a whole,` they remarked.Talking to Dawn, Prof Ziaul Haq said the termination of the faculty member would convey a strong message in preventing the harassment of female students.

`No leniency will be made with those involved in the harassment,` he said. He further said the universities in rest of the province and parents should encourage the female students to lodge complaints whenever they were harassed in educational institutions.

He said that the government and universities should also change the existing examination system in the province,which is one of the major factors in the exploitation of the students, especially females.

He said that in the existing examination system, the class teacher concerned awarded the marks, often misusing this power.

In light of the recent harassment case, the university administration has directed all the chairpersons of the teaching departments, directors of centres, all sectional heads/administrative officers, principals of constituent institutions to strictly implement the Protection against Harassment of Women at the Workplace Act, 2010.