ISLAMABAD: A few weeks after a boy was sexually assaulted in a hostel of the International Islamic University Islamabad (IIUI), which generated huge criticism against the management of the university on social media, the IIUI has constituted two committees to discourage ‘disinformation’ about the institution.

The committees will take disciplinary action against those involved in spreading disinformation about the university on social media.

One of the committees will collect details of disinformation spread by employees, students and outsiders and propose action as per the social media usage policy.

After the rape case, which took place on June 18, the university initially remained reluctant to register an FIR. However, after facing criticism on social media, its management lodged the case.

“It seems these notifications issued by the university are meant for a crackdown on whistle-blowers who have been active on social media to question alleged maladministration in the university,” said a faculty member, who wished not to be named. The notifications issued on July 9 stated:

“The President IIUI has constituted a committee to conduct inquiry against those who are misusing the social media by sharing disinformation about the university, which causes bad name and tarnish the image of the university.

“The committee shall take necessary steps and disciplinary action against those who are involved in sharing of disinformation about the university on social media as per social media usage policy,” read the notification of the committee which will be headed by Prof Dr Zafar Iqbal of the Department of Media and Communication Studies.

Through another notification, the IIUI president formed another committee headed by the chairman of the Department of Media and Communication Studies, Dr Syed Inamur Rehman.

This committee will collect details about disinformation spread by employees, students and outsiders about the university and propose action for consideration by the committee led by Zafar Iqbal.

When asked by Dawn if the notifications were issued to suppress the voice of faculty, employees and students, IIUI spokesperson Nasir Farid: “Not at all. The notifications are meant only to discourage disinformation on social media which tarnishes the image of the university.”

He said in the rape case of the boy, many people had tried to defame the university by spreading false information.

To another question, he said the IIUI was not forced by social media users to register the FIR rather the victim was not ready to file a case.

“When he did not come forward, the university itself got the FIR registered,” he said.

“We believe in freedom of expression but will not allow anyone to defame the university through fake and false information,” the spokesperson said.

Published in Dawn, July 14th, 2021