Students seek justice in Malakand University harassment case

BATKHELA: The activists of the Islami Jamiat-i-Talaba (IJT) on Tuesday staged a protest at Malakand University to demand justice in the sexual harassment case involving a university lecturer.

Chanting slogans, the demonstrators gathered outside the university gates and demanded immediate dismissal of the lecturer.Prominent local figures, including Shah Raz Khan, president of the Movement for the Rights of Malakand and former provincial minister. “If such incidents continue in our universities, the reputation of the entire educational system will be tarnished,” said Sha Raz Khan. He also expressed concerns about the growing efforts to undermine traditional values such as modesty and respect within educational institutions. Shah Raz Khan emphasized the need for reforms in the educational sector. “We need to establish a separate education system that upholds our values. At the same time, women must have an equal role in the progress of Pakistan, but their exploitation will never be tolerated,” he stated.

The protesters also raised broader issues affecting the educational system, including the introduction of mixed-gender classrooms and concerns over rampant drug use on campuses. “We are witnessing a push to dismantle the system of modesty and the concept of separate education. This is a grave concern for the future of our youth,” said Asfandyar Izzat, provincial head of IJT.

Fazal Qadir and Rahman Gul, president of the Peace Jirga, also voiced their support for the protest, urging the authorities to address the situation immediately.One of the key demands of the protesters was an annual audit of Anti-Harassment Committees in universities to ensure transparency and accountability in handling such cases. Many students also highlighted the risks posed by the internal marking system, which, according to them, made female students more vulnerable to harassment.