ISLAMABAD: A parliamentary committee on Thursday came down hard on the administration of the International Islamic University Islamabad (IIUI) for mishandling a rape case on the campus.

Moreover, the committee approved a bill to reduce the tenure of the chairman of Higher Education Commission (HEC) from four to two years.

The National Assembly Standing Committee on Education met at the HEC under the chairmanship of Mian Najeebuddin Awaisi.

The committee members said the rape case should be investigated by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA).

Recently, an outsider male student was sexually assaulted in a hostel of the IIUI by two students of the university. Surprisingly, the university got the FIR of the incident registered after almost a week. During the meeting, MNA Ali Nawaz Awan said instead of immediately taking action the university got the FIR registered after a week and tried to show the victim as an accused. He said the entire matter should be investigated by the FIA.

University management tried to show victim as an accused, says MNA

Later, speaking to Dawn, the MNA said the heads of the FIA, police and a representative of the Ministry of Human Rights had been asked by the committee to attend the next meeting to discuss the case.

During the meeting, MNA Mehnaz Aziz said the security in-charge of the university should be sacked for breach of security.

Another committee member, Sadaqat Abbasi, said the incident took place in the university hostel which was a breach of security. “How an outsider was brought into the hostel and raped?”

He said there was also a need to check who allowed a security guard to make video of the victim after he was raped, adding the entire issue warranted a proper inquiry.

However, IIUI Rector Dr Masoom Yasinzai said the university had already taken action against the students and other officials and a committee had been formed which was probing the matter. The rector said the university had also taken steps to check such incidents in future.

Meanwhile, the committee approved the Higher Education Commission (HEC) Amendment Bill to reduce the chairman’s term from four to two years.

A couple of months ago, the federal government through a presidential ordinance amended the ordinance. This move was designed to remove Dr Tariq Banuri from the post. He was appointed the HEC chief in 2018 for four years.

Since the life of the presidential ordinance is 120 days, the government has initiated the process to approve the amendment from parliament.

During the meeting, MNA Mehnaz Aziz said the amendment was targeted to remove Dr Banuri. However, MNA Awan said the amendment was meant to ensure good governance.

According to agenda items, the committee was also supposed to have a briefing from the secretary federal education ministry on the alleged illegal appointment of the chairperson of Private Educational Institutions Regulatory Authority (Peira).

According to media reports, a suspended member Peira alleged that the chairperson was appointed in violation of rules. However, MNA Ali Awan said the chairperson of Peira should not be maligned on the basis of newspapers reports. Therefore, the agenda item could not get much attention of the committee members.

Published in Dawn, July 2nd, 2021