A sessions court in Lahore has summoned the vice chancellor of the University of Okara for indictment on November 10 in a private complaint filed by a woman teacher of the university.
Additional District and Sessions Judge Abdul Ghaffar heard the complaint on Wednesday. The case has been filed against Vice Chancellor Dr Sajjad Mubin and the university’s public relations officer, Sharjeel Ahmad, under sections 499, 500, 501, 502 and 34 of the Pakistan Penal Code, which deal with defamation and acts done in furtherance of a common intention.
The complainant, Dr Shehla Honey, was represented by Advocate Safdar Shaheen Pirzada. The court could not frame charges against the vice chancellor at the latest hearing because he was absent, while the other defendant was present. Both defendants have now been summoned again for indictment on November 10.
In her complaint, the teacher has alleged that the vice chancellor harassed her after she refused to comply with what she described as inappropriate demands. She has further alleged that her salary and tenure-track system benefits were withheld and that her promotion was obstructed.
She has also claimed that she was unjustifiably refused permission to rejoin her position after returning from a postdoctoral fellowship abroad, and that the vice chancellor and the public relations officer damaged her reputation through the university’s official website and social media platforms.
The complainant has asked the court to impose strict punishment on both defendants in accordance with the law. The allegations are those made in the private complaint and have not been determined by the court; the indictment hearing will be the next stage of the proceedings.
