False allegation of harassment forces MAO College lecturer to kill self

[HAIDER]

–Deceased lecturer had appealed college authorities to issue him a formal exoneration letter

–College authorities claim lecturer was cleared of the charge ‘verbally’

LAHORE: A lecturer of MAO College allegedly committed suicide after being accused of harassment by one of his female students.

Muhammad Afzal Mehmood, a lecturer of English Literature, was accused of harassment by a student of BS (bachelor of science) Mass Communication; a claim which the late teacher refuted and which turned out to be unfounded by the college harassment committee assigned to probe into the matter.

However, college authorities failed to formally clear Afzal’s name by not issuing him a letter of exoneration.

Afzal left a suicide note on Oct 9 (the day on which he reportedly died by consuming poison) wherein he said that he had left the matter in the court of Allah and that he did not want the police to investigate into his death and “bother anybody” over it.

A day before his death, Afzal had also written to the harassment committee’s enquiry officer, Dr Aalia Rehman claiming that he was suffering from extreme stress and that he wanted the administration to officially clear his name.

In the letter, Afzal lamented the unfairness with which he was treated, saying that his reputation had been tainted beyond repair and that his wife had left him as a result.

College authorities confirmed that Afzal was asked to appear before the harassment committee when allegations against him first emerged on July 8, 2019.

Talking to Pakistan Today, enquiry officer Dr Aalia Rehman said that the nature of the allegations were “flimsy to say the least” and did not warrant official proceedings. She said that a small-scale enquiry was conducted which resulted in vindicating Afzal.

“A Mass Com student submitted an application against Afzal which stated that his conduct with female students was inappropriate. The student said that the professor was in the habit of making suggestive remarks and gestures which made female students uncomfortable,” she said, adding that no physical harassment on part of the late lecturer was reported.

“We found that Afzal had turned down the girl’s request to improve her marks which led her to write an application accusing him of harassment,” she revealed.

According to the enquiry officer, proceedings were completed on July 13 and a report was submitted to the principal’s office subsequently, following which Afzal was ‘verbally’ informed that he had been cleared of the charge.

“However, Afzal insisted that he be issued an exoneration letter since he had absolutely nothing to show for his innocence,” she said.

Dr Rehman revealed that Afzal feared that he would be retried and charged under the Provincial Efficiency and Disciplinary Act (PEDA) since he believed that the proceedings had not been formally concluded.

“He felt that he had been maligned by the accusations and therefore kept on asking for an official notification. I told him that he should contact the principal since he is the one who has the authority to issue such a notification,” she added.

Dr Rehman said that she isn’t aware whether Prof Afzal had contacted the college principal, Professor Farhan Ebadat Khan.

PRINCIPAL DENIES INVOLVEMENT:

Commenting on the issue, MAO College Principal Farhan Ebadat told Pakistan Today that Afzal’s case was dealt entirely by the harassment committee and the decision to issue a written clarification had to be made by the enquiry officer heading the probe.

He claimed that he didn’t have any involvement in the committee’s affairs and that at no point during and after the enquiry was he approached by the deceased lecturer.

“I understand the sort of troubles my colleague Afzal had to face but I assure you that I, in my capacity as principal, only wished him well.”

He said that a smear campaign had been launched against him by certain quarters of the press who were looking to malign him by implicating him in Afzal’s death.

When asked what action had been taken against the female student for levelling a false accusation against her teacher, Prof Khan said no action had yet been taken against the student.

“The enquiry committee is responsible to punish the false accuser. However, no such suggestion has reached my office till date,” he said.

METOO MOVEMENT IN SPOTLIGHT:

Afzal’s death has sparked huge outcry in social media as people have started questioning the methods of determining whether a person has in fact committed harassment.

People have pointed out that the #MeToo movement which has gained huge popularity across the world is increasingly being used to malign and slander innocent people for personal gain.

Singer and actor Ali Zafar, who was recently accused by singer Meesha Shafi of sexual harassment expressed solidarity with the late lecturer, raising concern over the increasing misuse of the #MeToo movement.


Ali Zafar

✔@AliZafarsays
https://twitter.com/AliZafarsays/status/1185499911174983680

Mr Afzal, Lecturer at Govt MAO College Lahore commits suicide after false harassment allegations. Leaves a suicide note as his wife leaves him & his reputation tarnished. How many will speak up for him now? How many will speak up against the misuse of #Metoo. Who is responsible?



8,507
05:16 - 19 Oct 2019
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Television personality, Hamid Mir in a tweet said that fake allegations could ruin a person’s life and career.


Hamid Mir

✔@HamidMirPAK
https://twitter.com/HamidMirPAK/status/1183372293872984065

#MeToo is a movement against sexual harassment but some people used it for their personal interest and made fake allegations not for justice but for destroying someone.Fake allegations can destroy lives and the cause of genuine victims it’s a crime punishable by law




666
08:21 - 13 Oct 2019
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Speaking to Pakistan Today, women’s rights activist and lawyer Nighat Dad said, “This painful event reminds us to make the inquiry committees stronger at the workplace. If allegations against the lecturer were false, the committee was supposed to do the needful.

“However to any of the alleged harasser and whoever may want to use this unfortunate event to discredit the #MeToo movement, we want to inform them that several women have also committed suicide after society and the judicial system failed them

“Before questioning women’s right to come forward and report cases of harassment we should recall the case of Haleema Rafeeq, a Pakistani cricketer who was sexually harassed and eventually committed suicide in the face of defamation suit by the alleged harasser.

Victims have little choice in a country where patriarchy runs deep while women who speak up often face severe backlash,” she concluded.

 

[khansaheeb]

There should be hashtag "Men too"

 

[Pakhtoon yum]

This is the dark side of the mess that has been created in the global societies.

 

[Myth_buster_1]

Heaven for this guy and HELL for the person who accused him.

 

[Trango Towers]

I bet the accuser will get away with this murder.

 

[Signalian]

Life is unfair. Things happen to a person which he/she can't even dream of. He should have stood his ground and defended his stance but he was a weak person, he sought the easy way out, suicide.

Heaven for this guy and HELL for the person who accused him.

In no position to judge heaven or hell for him but Throwing away his own life like that is a cowardly act. Life is a blessing of the Divine power yet He puts a man in test but the man calls it a day.

 

[Yaseen1]

respect and dignity is dear to true people more than their life and damage done to dignity is never recovered and society always see such person who is falsely accused with suspicion,I think such girls should also be given atleast life sentence in jail or even given death sentence

 

[-blitzkrieg-]

Nobody not even knows name of the accuser. or her face.
In pakistan only the victims name/picture is paraded by media.

 

[Trango Towers]

Life is unfair. Things happen to a person which he/she can't even dream of. He should have stood his ground and defended his stance but he was a weak person, he sought the easy way out, suicide.


In no position to judge heaven or hell for him but Throwing away his own life like that is a cowardly act. Life is a blessing of the Divine power yet He puts a man in test but the man calls it a day.

You are correct he was weak.
However, is it ok for a woman to label such a serious accusation against a man who loses everything including his wife. I think the girl must be named and shamed. If she was brave enough to label then she should be brave enough to take the consequences.

 

[Signalian]

You are correct he was weak.
However, is it ok for a woman to label such a serious accusation against a man who loses everything including his wife. I think the girl must be named and shamed. If she was brave enough to label then she should be brave enough to take the consequences.

Had he not committed suicide- he would have tried to clear his name thus bringing the girl to justice. You and me are discussing this since he was unable to do anything except to leave this world by throwing his life away. Pity.

 

[War Thunder]

I bet the accuser will get away with this murder.

Not int he court of the Almighty.

 

[litman]

Life is unfair. Things happen to a person which he/she can't even dream of. He should have stood his ground and defended his stance but he was a weak person, he sought the easy way out, suicide.


In no position to judge heaven or hell for him but Throwing away his own life like that is a cowardly act. Life is a blessing of the Divine power yet He puts a man in test but the man calls it a day.

its unfortunate that he committed suicide but as you know when ones honor is gone everything is gone. he must be feeling alienated in the college, in his society. we know how much rotten our culture is . all of his relatives must be talking about his "immorality "even behind his back. we love to discuss others personal issues with addition of lot of spices to get more "chaska". his wife was supposed to support him but she left as a typical pakistani lady who had very little trust on her husband . once the college inquiry committee cleared him they should have given it in writing and the bit*h who made false allegations should be thrown of the college and the case must be sent to police and courts ideally but unfortunately these two organizations are even more corrupt.
so in this scenario the whole system is responsible for his suicide
the bit*h who made false allegations
the inquiry committee who only verbally cleared him
the principal cant blame the committee only.she is the overall responsible for the college.
his wife for not fully trusting her husband.
lack of hopes from our police and justice.
when a person only sees darkness all around him he takes extreme steps and trust me in this pathetic country once a person is having a bad time he encounters hundreds of bad people at every step.
as far as suicide is concerned yes it is not allowed in islam and a grave sin but the Allah almighty is the most merciful. Allah forgive me if i make a mistake but as per an authentic hadith a person made hijra from makkah to madina , participated in battle of badr and got injured. he was in pain and he cut his artery in arm so as to increase his blood loss and to die quickly. he was forgiven by the Allah Almighty for the great deeds he committed in his life. All people dont have the faith of Hazrat Yusuf and Hazrat Ayesha.

Not int he court of the Almighty.

if her allegations were wrong she will definitely get more "marks" there. the only way she has is to make tobah and confess her mistake and present her for punishment as per the law. this is the only way through which she can save herself from getting more "marks" in the next world.

 

[Mentee]

once the college inquiry committee cleared him they should have given it in writing

College principals and educationalists with insecurities have only this much power to feel good about their selves. His parents should not let his wife come any where near his grave with the principal be suspended as he gonna have to sit outside the office of a guy half of his age for the period of suspension . What a bunch of holier than thou hypocrites

 

[Clearly]

He was asking for a written confirmation that he has been cleared of any charges. Authorities are to be blamed too for his death, as he expected them to issue the letter to prove his innocence. Stress his a real thing, who knows how severe it was that he found dieing a better option than continuing to live.

Governments human rights department must intervene and provide for his mother and also children (if any). We wont be a welfare state if we don’t provide for such people who have now lost probably their only breadwinner.

The welfare system in UK is very stringent where you dont have to fear that you will fall into a loophole and government won’t know. Even thou tories have made mockery of the benefit system by bringing in universalcredit.

I wish I had means to settle in Pak and work as a human rights case worker for families welfare and rehabilitation. This story has brought home a very serious issue. A young gentleman gone due to authorities failing him.

 

[Signalian]

its unfortunate that he committed suicide but as you know when ones honor is gone everything is gone. he must be feeling alienated in the college, in his society. we know how much rotten our culture is . all of his relatives must be talking about his "immorality "even behind his back. we love to discuss others personal issues with addition of lot of spices to get more "chaska". his wife was supposed to support him but she left as a typical pakistani lady who had very little trust on her husband . once the college inquiry committee cleared him they should have given it in writing and the bit*h who made false allegations should be thrown of the college and the case must be sent to police and courts ideally but unfortunately these two organizations are even more corrupt.
so in this scenario the whole system is responsible for his suicide
the bit*h who made false allegations
the inquiry committee who only verbally cleared him
the principal cant blame the committee only.she is the overall responsible for the college.
his wife for not fully trusting her husband.
lack of hopes from our police and justice.
when a person only sees darkness all around him he takes extreme steps and trust me in this pathetic country once a person is having a bad time he encounters hundreds of bad people at every step.
as far as suicide is concerned yes it is not allowed in islam and a grave sin but the Allah almighty is the most merciful. Allah forgive me if i make a mistake but as per an authentic hadith a person made hijra from makkah to madina , participated in battle of badr and got injured. he was in pain and he cut his artery in arm so as to increase his blood loss and to die quickly. he was forgiven by the Allah Almighty for the great deeds he committed in his life. All people dont have the faith of Hazrat Yusuf and Hazrat Ayesha.


if her allegations were wrong she will definitely get more "marks" there. the only way she has is to make tobah and confess her mistake and present her for punishment as per the law. this is the only way through which she can save herself from getting more "marks" in the next world.

When life hits you in the worst way, when a person is neck deep in crap and everything that can go wrong-does go wrong, thats when a man's character is known. Thats when the emotional and psychological growth takes place. Thats when the faith is tested.

The man had the whole world against him, just as you mentioned but bear in mind he had God on his side, still he chose the cowards way. He had belief in God's justice but didn't have faith in God that God will get his name cleared. God puts respect in hearts of people, but that man didn't wait for that time based on faith.

Instead of putting matters in god's hands, he took matters in his own hands and committed suicide.