Lahore: The GCU Lahore Students, faculty and old Ravians have written to the Chief Minister asking him to remove the Vice Chancellor Professor Khaleequr Rahman for protecting the Lecturer who tried to rape a student. The letter alleged that the VC not only pressurized the girl not to tell anyone about the incident but also tried to silence those who spoke out about the incident.
Two weeks ago, a lecturer by the name of Nadeem Sheikh allegedly called a female student into his office for discussion on an assignment. While in the office, the lecturer allegedly grabbed the girl’s hand and tried to kiss her. When the girl resisted, he tore up her clothes. The girl struggled and ran away from his office. She went straight to the Vice Chancellor’s office.
The Vice Chancellor, according to the letter, told the girl not to tell anyone and promised her stern action against the lecturer. When for several days no action was taken against the concerned professor, she reported the matter to a local newspaper. The local newspaper printed the VC’s version which claimed that action had been taken against the concerned professor.
Responding to public pressure, the VC set up a committee made up of his cronies. The General Secretary of the Academic Staff Association Dr Akram expressed his lack of confidence in this committee and accused the Vice Chancellor of trying to cover up the matter. He said that Khalid Butt and Zakria Butt, two people in the committee allegedly have dubious credentials themselves. “Zakria Butt is a known plagiarist and womanizer while Khalid Butt has faked his degrees,” claimed Dr. Akram.
The girl then went to the electronic media seeking justice where the special assistant to Chief Minister on Higher Education Zaeem Qadri promised to set up yet another committee. Since Mr Qadri is known to be a good friend of the Vice Chancellor, the faculty and the students are demanding of the chief minister to take strict action against the VC.
The letter alleges that the VC has in the past successfully covered up similar incidents of sexual assault by his cronies in the administration. He being a non-ravian has not only harmed the GCU culture and traditions but also created an intolerant and unsafe environment at GCU.
Dr. Farah Malik, incharge of the clinical psychology program also expressed her dissatisfaction with the VC. “This place has become unsafe for young girls. Even I am thinking about leaving this university,” she added.
