FIA interrogates 3 officials over involvement in harassment scandal at Balochistan University

Published October 14, 2019
A view of the Balochistan University campus in Quetta. — Dawn/File
A view of the Balochistan University campus in Quetta. — Dawn/File

The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has interrogated three officers of the University of Balochistan in connection with a case regarding alleged harassment and blackmail of students at the campus, officials said on Monday.

The case had come to light about a month ago when the Balochistan High Court (BHC) directed the FIA to investigate reports of students being harassed at the varsity.

The FIA, which has been probing the case for several weeks now, discovered that male and female students were being harassed through "objectionable" videos of them. These videos were recorded using at least six cameras that were secretly installed at various spots in the university's Quetta campus, in addition to the already existing official CCTV cameras.

Examine: Misogyny on campus

"We have traced 12 videos of harassment of female students," a senior officer of FIA who declined to be named told DawnNewsTV. He added that most of the victims in the case are female students who were harassed by some officials in the university's administration.

Official sources said the videos clips were of a personal nature and involved the mingling of female and male students. The clips, recorded using cameras covertly installed at places like washrooms and smoking areas on campus, were then used to sexually harass and blackmail students.

Liaquat Shahwani, a spokesperson for the Balochistan government, confirmed that FIA was investigating the case on BHC's orders.

"No one [responsible] will be spared," he said, adding that the culprits will be brought to justice.

Commenting on the incident, Balochistan University Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Javed Iqbal told DawnNewsTV: "If any officer or employee is found guilty, we will make an example out of them."

His comment came after a spokesperson for the university issued a statement denying reports that FIA had arrested any official at the varsity.

Related: Sexual harassment in Pakistan: Breaking the silence on sexism in academia

It also denied reports that the FIA had interrogated the staff officer of the vice-chancellor in connection with the case or that any objectionable videos were recovered from him.

According to the statement, the vice-chancellor had promised "full cooperation" to the FIA regarding the issue.

The FIA conducted a number of raids and launched a formal investigation into the scandal in the aftermath of a notice taken by the high court. BHC Chief Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail had directed the agency to submit a report about the alleged harassment of students by October 28.

The FIA has so far interrogated nearly 200 officials of Balochistan University.

"We have not formally arrested the officers, only investigated them," the FIA officer told DawnNewsTV, adding that formal arrests would be made after the registration of a first information report.

Opinion

Editorial

Military option
Updated 21 Nov, 2024

Military option

While restoring peace is essential, addressing Balochistan’s socioeconomic deprivation is equally important.
HIV/AIDS disaster
21 Nov, 2024

HIV/AIDS disaster

A TORTUROUS sense of déjà vu is attached to the latest health fiasco at Multan’s Nishtar Hospital. The largest...
Dubious pardon
21 Nov, 2024

Dubious pardon

IT is disturbing how a crime as grave as custodial death has culminated in an out-of-court ‘settlement’. The...
Islamabad protest
Updated 20 Nov, 2024

Islamabad protest

As Nov 24 draws nearer, both the PTI and the Islamabad administration must remain wary and keep within the limits of reason and the law.
PIA uncertainty
20 Nov, 2024

PIA uncertainty

THE failed attempt to privatise the national flag carrier late last month has led to a fierce debate around the...
T20 disappointment
20 Nov, 2024

T20 disappointment

AFTER experiencing the historic high of the One-day International series triumph against Australia, Pakistan came...