HYDERABAD: A pharmacy student from Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences (LUMHS), who recently attempted suicide, has accused two faculty members of harassment.
LUMHS Vice-Chancellor Professor Beekha Ram Devrajani constituted a five-member inquiry committee on Thursday to probe the incident. The committee would be headed by Professor Suhail Almani.
The student, identified as Saira Gul, tried to cut her wrist with a blunt object and was shifted from the university’s girl hostel to the intensive care unit of Liaquat University Hospital on October 9.
Speaking to media persons after appearing before an inquiry committee on Friday, Gul said, “I used to remain worried because of constant harassment.” She is enrolled in the seventh semester of her graduate study programme.
Moreover, Gul claimed that she had informed the college administration about the harassment before deciding to commit suicide. “Every time, I was told to come up with some concrete evidence against the faculty members,” she added.
Gul’s father Khawand Bux Thaeem said that his daughter had earlier informed them about the harassment, but they made the mistake of ignoring her complaint.
Professor Almani said that an investigation had been initiated into the incident and the statements of the student and her parents have been recorded in the presence of a judicial officer appointed by the Sindh High Court (SHC) to look into cases of harassment at educational institutes.
“Statements of the accused teachers, other faculty members, fellow students and staff of the hostel would also be recorded,” he added.
Speaking in connection with the incident, Professor Devrajani said that the student did not submit allegations against the faculty members in writing.
He claimed that the student was suffering from mental stress issues and was using anti-depressants for this reason.
“The allegation that her teacher deliberately failed her in an exam may not be true because LUMHS has introduced an efficient system of digital checking of answer sheets,” he added.
Meanwhile, the students of LUMHS held an on-campus demonstration against the incident on Friday and demanded action against both the professor and the lecturer, who have been accused of harassment by the student.
LUMHS Vice-Chancellor Professor Beekha Ram Devrajani constituted a five-member inquiry committee on Thursday to probe the incident. The committee would be headed by Professor Suhail Almani.
The student, identified as Saira Gul, tried to cut her wrist with a blunt object and was shifted from the university’s girl hostel to the intensive care unit of Liaquat University Hospital on October 9.
Speaking to media persons after appearing before an inquiry committee on Friday, Gul said, “I used to remain worried because of constant harassment.” She is enrolled in the seventh semester of her graduate study programme.
Moreover, Gul claimed that she had informed the college administration about the harassment before deciding to commit suicide. “Every time, I was told to come up with some concrete evidence against the faculty members,” she added.
Gul’s father Khawand Bux Thaeem said that his daughter had earlier informed them about the harassment, but they made the mistake of ignoring her complaint.
Professor Almani said that an investigation had been initiated into the incident and the statements of the student and her parents have been recorded in the presence of a judicial officer appointed by the Sindh High Court (SHC) to look into cases of harassment at educational institutes.
“Statements of the accused teachers, other faculty members, fellow students and staff of the hostel would also be recorded,” he added.
Speaking in connection with the incident, Professor Devrajani said that the student did not submit allegations against the faculty members in writing.
He claimed that the student was suffering from mental stress issues and was using anti-depressants for this reason.
“The allegation that her teacher deliberately failed her in an exam may not be true because LUMHS has introduced an efficient system of digital checking of answer sheets,” he added.
Meanwhile, the students of LUMHS held an on-campus demonstration against the incident on Friday and demanded action against both the professor and the lecturer, who have been accused of harassment by the student.