RAHIM YAR KHAN: The Khwaja Fareed University of Engineering and Information Technology (KFUEIT) has set up a committee to investigate harassment allegations levelled against a faculty member on an anonymous social media account.
As per the varsity sources, a post appearing on an anonymous social media account on September 20 alleged that a faculty member had sent inappropriate WhatsApp messages to a student, harassing her.
The post was widely circulated, especially among the varsity students and staff.
KFUEIT officials say that although no formal complaint has so far been filed, the varsity administration, to determine the veracity of the accusations, has constituted a probe committee, alsocomprising two co-opted female faculty members.
They say the committee has been given 48 hours to investigate the matter by contacting the student concerned and the accused faculty member, and submit a fact-based report to the administration.
Furthermore, the accused faculty member has been relieved of his teaching duties till the outcome of the inquiry, the official says.
KFUEIT officials maintain that the varsity strictly follows the Higher Education Commission’s (HEC) anti-harassment policy and has a zero-tolerance approach in such matters.
Vice Chancellor Dr Aamir Azam Khan has directed the committee to conduct an impartial inquiry and ensure merit.
The VC says the university will show no leniency to anyone found guilty of any wrongdoing. The accused faculty member says that he has already filed an application with the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) seeking action against the elements running the anonymous social media account concerned.
A KFUEIT spokesperson says the findings of the probe committee will be shared with the media.