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Government College University, Faisalabad (GCUF) on Monday suspended an assistant professor for three months after an inquiry committee found him guilty of allegedly sexually harassing a female student pursuing an MPhil in organic chemistry.
"Consequent upon the recommendation of the Sexual Harassment Committee, the vice chancellor [...] has been pleased to place Dr Nasir Rasool [...] under suspension, for a period of 90 days, with immediate effect," said a notification issued by the GCUF registrar, dated April 17.
The probe against Dr Nasir Rasool, an assistant professor of the chemistry department, was initiated after the vice chancellor (VC) referred the matter to the varsity's Sexual Harassment Committee after a complaint filed by S*, a research student, on March 27.
The VC had instructed the committee to probe the matter immediately and submit a report in this regard by April 07.
In her application, S stated that she had been assigned to do her research work with Dr Rasool, and the work required students to sometimes work in the laboratory alone with him.
Dr Rasool "has been constantly behaving obnoxiously, flirtatiously and unethically with me," the student complained, adding that this was against her "dignity and honour".
S said the professor had been constantly making unethical phone calls, sending indecent text messages and threats of "dire consequences to discourage me from complaining against him".
"I can't bear it anymore [...] his vulgar communication is unbearable for me."
The student urged the VC to take strict action against the concerned teacher and "protect my dignity and honour like you would for your own daughter".
She had also attached printed screengrabs of text messages sent by Dr Rasool as proof of his misconduct.
The professor allegedly sent S texts of sexual nature including "I like u", "kiss u", despite the girl's responses asking him to stop messaging her.
The university's registrar said in the suspension notice that a case for the initiation of inquiry against Dr Rasool under the Punjab Employees Efficiency, Discipline and Accountability Act 2006 will be placed before the forthcoming meeting of the university syndicate.
*The student's identity has been withheld for privacy.
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Comments (55) Closed
Apr 18, 2017 02:24pm
Lodge an FIR, suspension is not enough. We can not let these sexual predators roam our cities.
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Apr 18, 2017 02:25pm
90 days? he should be fired!
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Apr 18, 2017 02:31pm
what a shameful act of a person who is supposed to be like father! Being had been a teacher I must suggest the students not be so informal with a male teacher and in case if you feel something wrong in his body language you must report it before such shameful developments un surfaces...
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Apr 18, 2017 02:44pm
It should be considered a felony not a misdemeanor. 90 days suspension, is a slap on the wrist. University should fire him after thorough investigation.
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Apr 18, 2017 02:45pm
Unless a befitting further action is planned against the professor's misconduct, mere 90 days suspension is mockery.
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Apr 18, 2017 02:46pm
GCUF Administration should make an example of him
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Apr 18, 2017 02:48pm
It is clear that he is unethical and a sexual predator and should never be around young students. People like him need to be fired from teaching jobs and not just reprimanded
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Apr 18, 2017 02:52pm
@annie 90 days for the case investigation and the disciplinary action, I am sure!
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Apr 18, 2017 02:52pm
Good to see somewhere justice is served.
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Apr 18, 2017 02:54pm
I applaud the brave student. These sex pests need to be exposed. I hope other students are encouraged to stand up and speak out, including exposing male lecturers seeking sexual favours from male students .
There's a lot going on in our universities but the majority remain silent.
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Apr 18, 2017 02:55pm
Very bad seen......but this is happening in all organization. And some times it end with dire consequences.
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Apr 18, 2017 02:59pm
I have read the story and the text messages as well but the style of writing not as a Ph.D person something fake behind the text my be some investigation should be done before any action that who typed these messages. Phone number may be the same like Professor but some one can use his phone to make this case.
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Apr 18, 2017 03:08pm
Very shameful. Female students in Pakistan are so vulnerable to such evil minded faculty members. Students can't protect or defend themselves. Such people in "professors's" garb can and do make the life of such students miserable. I have seen that happen. Ms. S is brave that she came forward because numerous others don't! Believe me I have been a professor and I have seen this happen more often than not! So, please fire this person and protect others! Thanks.
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Apr 18, 2017 03:12pm
Bravo to this courageous girl. The teacher ought be made an example, bringing disrepute to such a noble profession.
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Apr 18, 2017 03:17pm
90 days of suspension !!!! & it will be the girl who will be going to suffer at the end. We have no moral values. I remember, some years ago, one of the head of departments in PIMS , Islamabad who was famous for his harassing attitude for female doctors even to his own trainees and use to drink in his office during duty time was investigated and suspending after a formal complain ... later on I found him the director of National institute of Health Islamabad.... long live Pakistan
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Apr 18, 2017 03:30pm
He must be fired.
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Apr 18, 2017 03:31pm
He should be Exemplified.....A Teacher? what a shameful act. No wonder, i agree with the fact, male shouldnt teach female and vice versa.
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Apr 18, 2017 03:34pm
such acts require urgent action as there is no room for such like behavior in our society where there is already an insignificant rate of female literacy. if we want female literacy, than we should take urgent action for such sort of acts.
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Apr 18, 2017 03:37pm
Great, correct and quick action by the University administration. For sure, it will go a long way in nipping the evil in the bud, once for all.
What kind of professors teach at the Government College University Faisalabad (GCUF)?
Being a role model for the younger generation and all of his students, what impression his highly immoral, absolutely shameful, totally unwarranted, grossly uncalled for and utterly disgraceful actions will have on them?
The sicko, nutcase and psychopath professor in question must be fired immediately by the "movers and shakers" of the university, followed by the due process of law, as per the laws of the land.
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Apr 18, 2017 03:39pm
@annie. In Pakistan the corrupt are protecting the corrupt. Laws are being made by the corrupt to protect the corrupt.
All this is rubbish relying on the law enforcement agency because they are also corrupt.
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Apr 18, 2017 03:40pm
@Afzal Nadir : You are right sir, I endorse your comments.
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Apr 18, 2017 03:43pm
Such a shameful act, people should be taught dos and donts in a work environment, well I will quote this from a very old movie "When women says no, it actually means NO!, When a man says no, in some cases it might be a "May Be".
Easy to remember isn't it?
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Apr 18, 2017 03:51pm
This teacher is a bad apple, throw him out.
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Apr 18, 2017 03:56pm
After this indecent incident The teacher is no more be worthy to called himself teacher , only suspension , that also for very shorter period of 03 months is not sufficient he must be handed over to police for disrespecting the woman .
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Apr 18, 2017 04:07pm
He should be fired. 90-day suspension may be an eyewash.
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Apr 18, 2017 04:28pm
Where is our newly enforced Cyber Crime Law?
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Apr 18, 2017 04:29pm
After Mashal brutal killing and above sexual harassment incident, it is high time now that our Govt should approve and strongly implement a strong code of ethics for each and every university.
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Apr 18, 2017 04:38pm
this is the level of Mr and we always blame Molvis.
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Apr 18, 2017 04:51pm
Unfortunately, In Pakistan, the academia is full of black sheep. You can find faculty members involve in various heinous crimes ranging from sexual harassment to plagiarism. In public sector universities, the situation is worst due to the existing of academic staff unions which support faculty members involved in such activities.
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Apr 18, 2017 04:56pm
Why in God's name she kept on replying to his inappropiate messages??
This guy should be fired and protection now provided to the girl student.
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Apr 18, 2017 05:15pm
Touching on the back and saying great performance "sabash" to female students is very common. Female students cannot differentiate whther teacher is doing "thurk" or realy appreciating her good performance. Some teachers and bosses are very clever. They see what is working and what not. It not then they back off. But Dr. Rasool could not control and crossed the ethical lines. Should be dismissed from job if proven guilty. I have a great respect for female students who fight back for their dignity and respect.
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Apr 18, 2017 05:22pm
The guy should be given the strictest punishment to make him an example for other faculty members.
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Apr 18, 2017 05:32pm
This was very common at Punjab University Fine Arts department.......
To pass the exam with good marks meant these kind of favors to main teachers....
This continued and nobody could stop it.......
Shame on Punjab University Lahore.
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Apr 18, 2017 05:45pm
what a shame a teacher sexually harass his student.!! This is one of the significant factor responsible for the lost respect of teacher to a great extent in the society.
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Apr 18, 2017 05:47pm
@Mujahid I saw similar happening in Quaid e Azam university. I still remember one teacher gave a female student 105 scores out of 100 in my class. He just liked to be around women. He was married and having two children at that time. Shame on such teachers.
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Apr 18, 2017 05:56pm
First the teachers of university involved in death of Mashal Khan and now this....If the teachers of the Nation behave this way there is no reason to blame the young generation.If he is found guilty then he should be set an example...maybe lifetime prison.
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Apr 18, 2017 06:06pm
If he is suspended for 90 days that proves he is guilty, file a FIR and punish him...
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Apr 18, 2017 06:06pm
Shame on all lecherous men wherever they may be hiding. Don't they realize that their own daughter/sisters could be harassed by some other pathetic fool like them?
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Apr 18, 2017 06:19pm
It is unfortunate human failing. However, the punishment should be much more than 90 days.
It should be enough to send a message that this behavior of a person in a position of authority will not be tolerated.
In the west, there would be charges filed and if proven there would be jail time. In Canada the law is minimum 1 year in jail. Judges cannot give a lesser sentences.
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Apr 18, 2017 06:40pm
My professor take 70000 from my pocket for PhD.☺ I will not leak out his name otherwise I will not get my PhD. He did not guide a single step in whole project just threatening me all the time of dire consequences. So you can imagine the quality in academia
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Apr 18, 2017 07:40pm
Where the Republic heading toward. What research she does in such environment where students don't feel safe around their teacher. What an exemplary 'teacher'.
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Apr 18, 2017 07:59pm
He should have been put on indefinite suspension pending the investigation. But known Pakistani culture , he will go scott free.
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Apr 18, 2017 08:15pm
@Punjab not clear. Is it rs70,000 per year from your pocket or per month or what. Is it $70,000 or Rs. Elaborate it further. Your PHD advisor is doing a more serious crime than the one who is sexually harassing a female student. I think we are loosing our morals. Bad trending.
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Apr 18, 2017 08:58pm
Shameful act by a teacher.
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Apr 18, 2017 09:22pm
Due to political appointments, the universities across the country are full of such incompetent and unethical characters, after on going such incidents, it has become imperative that universities be cleansed of such elements and Federal government should seize control of universities to curb decay of moral and ethical values! Universities ought to be run by professional educators not incompetent mediocre unethical people!
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Apr 18, 2017 09:30pm
Why suspended? Why not fired at least from educational institutions where he attempts and will attempt again and again.
The actual reason is from VC till gate keeper every one is involved in some extent. Every body is exploiting what so ever appointment he has.
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Apr 19, 2017 12:14am
Appears he is a bad chemistry teacher unaware of chemical reaction!
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Apr 19, 2017 12:14am
Only female teachers are needed to be hired in woman universities and colleges
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Apr 19, 2017 12:23am
@Moth one time he had taken from me Rs=70k, can not share full story because my future is in his hand. These black sheep's also blablackmail male students in different ways.
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Apr 19, 2017 01:51am
What these corrupt criminal teacher will teach
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Apr 19, 2017 12:07pm
Its a bad act, but before taking any action, it should be investigated thouroghly.
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Apr 19, 2017 04:33pm
University should fired him and Government should ban him in all universities of Pakistan.
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Apr 19, 2017 04:39pm
Students are not secure in universities because of these kind of persons. They make our generation mentally sick, unproductive and frustrated. For God sake stop them at any cost.
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Apr 19, 2017 04:59pm
Sexual Harassment in universities is another form of terrorism. Terrorists kills young students and these sick teacher kills the passion and aims of young students. These kind of teachers are worse than terrorist.
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Apr 20, 2017 09:56am
False allegations are not uncommon in our society. It is a very dangerous road to pass judgement without proper investigation and media should refrain from defaming a person's repute. Forensic analysis of text messages should be done to make sure these are not fabricated (fabrication of whatsapp texts is very common).Unless a person is proven guilty, just to satisfy mob's sentiments is not a justifiable reason to punish a person. After investigations, if the person is proven guilty, he should be laden with exemplary punishment.
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