Rights activists demand removal of Fuuast acting registrar

Civil society activists have demanded that President of Pakistan Dr Arif Alvi, who is the chancellor of the Federal Urdu University of Arts, Science and Technology (Fuuast), and federal caretaker education minister Madad Ali Sindhi remove the acting registrar of Fuuast, Assistant Prof Muhammad Siddique of the mathematics department, over charges of women harassment and take action against him under anti-harassment laws.

The demand was made during a press conference held by the National Trade Union Federation (NTUF), Home-Based Women Workers Federation (HBWWF), Women Democratic Front, Tehrik-e-Niswan and other organisations.

Those who addressed the press conference included Sindh Commission on the Status of Women’s Nuzhat Shirin, HBWWF’s Zehra Khan, Human Rights Commission of Pakistan’s Uzma Noorani, Tehreek-e-Niswan’s Sheema Kermani, Fuuast Senate member Dr Farhan Shafique and others.

The press conference was told that Siddique had sent two applications to the registrar office in September 2021 in which he levelled allegations against female teachers recruited through the Selection Board.

Following his applications, a two-member investigation committee comprising Prof Zareena Ali and Dr Shabbar Raza was formed to probe the allegations against the female teachers.

The committee reviewed all documents and evidence and termed the allegations levelled by Siddique baseless and declared the female teachers innocent. It also recommended action against Siddique under the discipline rules of the university for stealing government record, spreading misleading administration and carrying out character assassination of the female teachers.

Later, in 2022, then permanent vice chancellor of Fuuast Dr Athar Atta formed a three-member committee comprising Prof Dr Mahjabeen, Dr Abdul Majeed and Saeedia Khaleeq to investigate the allegations levelled against the female teachers.

That committee also unanimously rejected the allegations of Siddique as baseless and in its report said that he had lodged a fabricated report in violation of the Urdu University Ordinance and section 9 of the Rules.

It said that as an assistant professor, Siddique harmed the reputation of the university, obtained confidential record of different departments and carried out character assassination of female teachers on social media, due to which he should be either demoted or sent on compulsory retirement.

The committee also recommended criminal action against Siddique, it was said. The press conference was told that despite such recommendations of the two committees, no action was taken against Siddique and the female teachers had to lodge a complaint demanding action against him as per the recommendations of the committees. Speakers at the press conference also claimed that more than 70 teachers had signed for transferring the FUUAST acting registrar for hatching up a conspiracy against the selection board and harassing female teachers.