I WAS shocked to hear recently the story of a lecturer at Malakand University who allegedly blackmailed and harassed his female student. He was arrested for allegedly blackmailing one of his students after his video was seen on social media platforms.

Sadly, we have witnessed so many such cases in universities across the country where teachers were found involved in harassing their female students. Universities are considered a place of learning, and they should be respected by all concerned. Female education ratio is already seriously low across the country, especially in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP). If such scandals continue surfacing in the country’s universities, it will further affect girls’ education, for parents will stop sending their daughters to universities.

KP is a conservative, patriarchal society where female education is just gaining ground. Such incidents only support those who want to reverse the changing trend.

Universities need to establish a policy to address harassment and blackmailing across campuses. They must establish harassment committees to take strict action against those involved in such activities. Besides, awareness must be spread. Teachers and students must be made aware of the consequences of blackmailing and harassment to stop such incidents. Seminars must be held to make girl students aware that they must not think twice before reporting harassment issues.

Sonia Ali
Peshawar

Published in Dawn, March 8th, 2025