The varsity’s Director Finance, Mohammad Abu Bakr, and Chief Security Officer, Syed Ejaz Hussain Shah, were arrested after the police discovered crystal ice and prohibited pills in Bakr’s possession during a routine check post stop. Similar circumstances led to Shah’s arrest three days earlier. During their investigations, the police found inappropriate videos, images of students and officials, and chats on their confiscated mobile phones.

The university confirmed receiving 22 complaints related to the incident and deemed it unfortunate, taking prompt action against the accused. However, the Vice Chancellor, Dr. Athar Mehboob, wrote to the Punjab Inspector General, claiming that the police’s actions were illegal and requested a transparent investigation by a senior official committee.

The university formed an internal committee to probe the matter and suspended both suspects. As a measure against drugs on campus, the university decided to conduct drug tests for all its employees, including the Vice Chancellor.

These shocking revelations mean that a place that was meant to make these female students educated and skilled contributors to society has instead rendered them victims of an oppressive patriarchal system.

Pakistan’s education system is plagued by alarming statistics, with the nation topping the worldwide list for out-of-school children. The country’s Bureau of Statistics reveals that only 5.07 percent of approximately 102 million women in Pakistan manage to finish their university education, revealing the gender disparity in higher education. 

This is one of the many recent incidents within educational institutions that are concerning. The harassment case involving the Vice-Chancellor of Gomal University who was reportedly a member of religious party Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI), similar cases of harassment at the Balochistan University, and the heartbreaking reports emerging from Islamia University Bahawalpur, all serve as stark reminders that the authorities are least concerned about protecting students. 

Among these incidents, the case of Mashal Khan stands out as a haunting reminder of the perils some face when challenging the status quo on campuses. Mashal Khan, a political activist, was lynched by his fellow students over blasphemy allegations on the campus of Mardan’s Abdul Wali Khan University in 2017. Before his brutal murder, he courageously spoke out against the administration’s alleged involvement in blackmailing and harassing female students within the university.

And the harassment against which Mashal Khan stood up continues even today. How can we watch silently while women’s dreams are shattered, and their potential goes unrealized? Shouldn’t our educational institutions be beacons of hope, fostering the growth of young minds irrespective of gender? Shouldn’t they be secure fortresses, where women’s intellect, ideas, and achievements are not just acknowledged but also celebrated?

One of the primary reasons university administrations get away with harassment is due to the power difference that exists between students and staff. In the student-staff scenario, the harasser holds a position of authority, enabling them to manipulate, coerce, and punish their victims. This power dynamic compels the victim to remain silent, fearing isolation, victim-blaming, negative impacts on their grades, and damage to their family’s “honor”.

These recent incidents have revealed a disturbing trend: some of the most highly educated individuals, holding prestigious doctorates and serving as esteemed parental figures to students, have been found harassing their own female students.

These alleged perpetrators, who are expected to be moral exemplars, have been exposed for engaging in reprehensible actions. They have been accused of exploiting their positions of authority to create compromising videos and pictures of their female students, subsequently using these materials to blackmail them into securing good marks in their exams. This blatant abuse of power tarnishes the very foundations of trust and respect that should exist within educational institutions.

Educational institutions are meant to be sanctuaries of hope that foster the growth of young minds irrespective of gender. But in Pakistan, female students face sexual harassment from people in positions of power within their universities.  

Moreover, the implications of such harassment extend beyond individual cases. The aftermath of the tragic accident at Balochistan University revealed another concerning aspect: numerous female students were reportedly compelled by their parents to leave the university, seemingly due to safety concerns and the prevailing atmosphere of vulnerability.

Now, as attention shifts to the Bahawalpur University case, we must not allow the same injustice to take place once again. Will these young women, eager to pursue their dreams through education, be subjected to similar torment and compelled to face the harsh reality of harassment within the supposed sanctum of learning?

Decades have passed since these issues have been raised by students and political activists, yet the authorities have constantly turned a blind eye. Students have been advocating for the formation of student unions and harassment committees in Pakistan, but to no avail. The government’s lack of attention stems from the fear that empowered students will demand their rights, equality, and raise their voices against such heinous crimes. The urgent need for student unions and harassment committees in Pakistani universities cannot be overstated.

It is time for the authorities to acknowledge the gravity of these issues and take decisive action to protect the rights and safety of students, particularly women, in our educational institutions. Establishing student unions and harassment committees will empower students to raise their voices against injustice and create a safer and more inclusive environment for all. 

Ikram Ullah Maseed

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