PESHAWAR: A government inquiry committee has recommended that the governor ask Vice-Chancellor of the Bannu University of Science and Technology Prof Abid Ali Shah to choose between resignation and sacking over an inappropriate dance video.

The vice chancellor was sent on forced leave on Sept 19, 2019, a day after the video went viral on social media.

The video showed Prof Abid dancing with a woman in a room.

The social media outrage prompted Governor Shah Farman, who is also the chancellor of the university, to form a three members committee to look into the matter.

The committee comprised University of Peshawar Vice-Chancellor Prof Mohammad Asif Khan, chairman of the Governor’s Inspection Team Imtiaz Altaf and Auqaf and Haj secretary Farrukh Sair.

Report on ‘indecent dance video’ put up to governor for action

Sources told Dawn that Prof Abid’s forced leave expired in three months but as the inquiry wasn’t completed, the governor extended it for three more months until March 2020.

They said the vice-chancellor was sent on forced leave under Section 12(8) of the KP Universities Act, 2012, which declares, “The Chancellor may send the Vice Chancellor on forced leave for ninety (90) days extendable once if the circumstances so demands for reasons to be recorded.”

Sources quoted the vice-chancellor as telling investigators that the video showing him dance was real but he danced before becoming the vice-chancellor and that, too, outside the campus.

Prof Abid also alleged that a retired government official used the video to blackmail him for employment in the university.

Sources said the probe team had declared in its findings that the video in question could be acceptable in the western societies and not in Pakistan.

They also noted that the indecent video also harmed the vice-chancellor’s credibility as a teacher.

Sources said the higher education department had submitted the inquiry report to the governor for action.

They said the governor in his capacity as the university’s chancellor would offer the vice-chancellor a chance for personal hearing.

The tenure of Prof Abid is set to complete next July.

When contacted, Prof Abid claimed that his dance video was fake and that he had approached the Federal Investigation Agency for its forensic audit.

He also questioned the legitimacy of the probe body, saying he’s a BPS-22 officer, so a BPS-21 officer is not authorised to hold an inquiry against him.

Prof Abid had moved the Peshawar High Court against the notification meant to send the vice-chancellor on forced leave.

During the pendency of that petition, that 90 days time and as his forced leave was further extended, he filed another petition with the court against it.

As the lawyers ended strike lately, progress on it can take place.

Sources said the chancellor could remove a vice-chancellor under Section 12(7) of the KP Universities Act, 2012, which declared, “The Vice Chancellor shall hold office during the pleasure of the Chancellor.

“Provided that before removing a Vice-Chancellor from his position, the Chancellor may grant an opportunity of personal hearing to the Vice-Chancellor.”

Published in Dawn, February 5th, 2020