MAO College principal removed from post over negligence in lecturer's suicide: notification

LAHORE: The principal of the Government MAO College has been removed from his post over negligence in the case of late English lecturer Muhammad Afzal's suicide, according to a notification from the government of Punjab issued late Monday.

Last week, an inquiry committee probing Afzal's suicide had held Dr Farhan Ebadat Yar Khan, the educational institute's principal, responsible for negligence after it submitted a report to the Punjab Higher Education Department (HED). The committee had suggested a departmental inquiry against him, according to sources, which added that it was also pondering his removal from the post.

The notification further mentioned that Dr Ebadat was to report to the secretary of the Punjab HED while the Government MAO College's vice-principal was given the additional charge as the varsity's principal.

Also read: Report notes principal's negligence in harassment case against Lahore lecturer

Sources, on the other hand, confirmed that the principal was removed after the inquiry committee submitted its investigative report.

The report last week had noted that Dr Ebadat exhibited negligence in his dealings pertaining to the case of sexual harassment allegations levelled against Afzal wherein the late lecturer was absolved of the accusations but had not been provided an official letter by Dr Ebadat — or the college administration — to clear his name.

Read more: Case was mishandled, decision delayed, says Kashmala Tariq

Despondent at not having anything to show to prove his innocence, Afzal had committed suicide a day after he penned a letter to the head of the committee that had absolved him of the sexual harassment allegations, Dr Alia Rehman, requesting her to help him obtain the said letter and mentioning how the false claims of sexual misconduct had ruined his personal life.

On Wednesday, the federal ombudsperson for protection against harassment of women at the workplaces, Kashmala Tariq, had said Afzal's case "was mishandled and there was a delay in making a decision on it".

She had added: "This incident [of Afzal's suicide] was due to negligence and could have been prevented."

Related:

Lahore college lecturer commits suicide after sexual harassment allegations

KU says sexual harassment complaint against professors is ‘fake’