Shameful incidents in Universities on hike

Public places and work places were not safe for females as we usually heard a lot about the sexual harassment and violations of basic human rights in our society. We may not surprise from this fact but it’s an alarming situation when the news about such happenings in educational institutes however around. Few months ago it had been reported by a leading newspaper that a professor of well reputed Quaid-e-Azam University Islamabad allegedly misconduct and tried to indulge one of his student in some immoral activities inside his office, whereas student ran away from his office and reported that incident to the high up’s of the varsity. Later it had been reported on media and professor consequently quit university. An alleged incident also arose in Punjab University Lahore as well.

Another alarming incident of International Islamic University (IIUI) came in to media reports when a professor was captured by mobile cameras of passing by students from his office when he was busy in some kind of immoral activities with his student. Another shocking report of same university also came into reports of media when a head librarian in IIUI tried to indulge his fellow colleague in such activity and she refused to do. She approached to the president and also HEC chairman regarding this incident.

It is very unfortunate to have such incidents in universities; these were few incidents which alarmed the students and management of the university.  Certain actions were taken regarding these matters by installing CCCTV cameras and deputing more security personals but this is not enough. Higher Education Commission also took several actions and sent notifications to universities to monitor such incidents strictly to ensure not to have any such activity within the premises of university.

Parents were already much reluctant to send their girls to universities for higher education but if such unfortunate incidents would appear in best institutions of capital than parents would forbade their girls from further education. We already are living in such society where we every second day encounter harassment issue in public places, public and private organization but nobody had ever expected such incident in educational institutions.

HEC formulates a task force for policy guidelines against sexual harassments in institutions of higher learning. But the dilemma is that having such task force, legislation and security checks such incidents are repeated. According to the situation security had been increased but they were unable to stop such incident and IIUI came up with another incident. Keeping in view such directions and steps taken it can be said that it’s not enough rather we need of the hour is to give moral and ethical education to staff working in the universities.

There were few voices which were heard only whom who showed courage it is highly possible that there were many other incidents which were not reported due to many reasons. But media coverage to such mishaps would provide courage to victims to come front and report such events and will decrease the risk of such incidents as well.