LAHORE: Hearing a petition against the Punjab University vice chancellor, the Lahore High Court on Monday expressed concern over allegations of sexual harassment against the varsity head.
Justice Farrukh Irfan Khan observed that status of a teacher was highly respectable but allegations against Dr Mujahid Kamran were grave and could not be tolerated.
A law college lecturer, Khujista Rehan, filed the petition and accused the vice chancellor of sexual harassment.
Petitioner’s counsel argued that his client was being victimised by university’s authorities for raising voice against the VC. He said the authorities at the behest of Dr Kamran initiated several ‘fake’ inquiries against the petitioner. He pointed out the matter was pending before the PU syndicate but the vice chancellor being chairman of it had been influencing its proceedings.
The counsel asked the court to suspend the VC till finalisation of inquiry.
On the other side, the university’s counsel defended the charges and said the petitioner herself was involved in threatening the sports director. He also presented record of telephonic conversation between Khujista Rehan and the director sports.
Justice Khan adjourned further hearing till a date to be fixed by office and sought more arguments from both sides.
NA-122 RECOUNT: The LHC on Monday adjourned hearing of a petition against proceedings before an election tribunal on an appeal of PTI Chairman Imran Khan seeking recounting in NA-122, Lahore.
NA Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq filed the petition and contended that documents and affidavits presented by Imran in the tribunal were not original but the photocopies. He pleaded the tribunal could not hold proceedings unless original documents were provided to it. In this case, Justice Ijazul Ahsan had already stayed the tribunal’s proceedings.
On Monday, counsel for Mr Khan sought a week to file reply to the petition. The judge turned down the request and directed the counsel to advance his conclusive arguments on Tuesday (today).
Published in Dawn, July 8th , 2014