The increase in sexual assault cases against women shows that there are dangers for them in the workplace, in educational settings, and on the streets and roads. Such egregious occurrences ought to draw the society’s attention to the problem of sexual harassment of women in workplaces, educational institutions, and other settings.
Yesterday, it was discovered that the former security chief of Islamia University of Bahawalpur (Retired Major Ijaz Shah) was discovered carrying many videos of female students and staff on his phone. During the course of their investigation, the police allegedly discovered 5500 pornographic films and photos. The nation has been shaken by the Islamia university of Bahawalpur’s drugs and sex scandal.
In February 2022, Parveen, a nurse student at People’s institution of Medical and Health Sciences in Nawab Shah, filed a lawsuit alleging sexual harassment and attempted murder against institution administrators. She claimed that three masked university employees broke into her room, thrashed & battered her, and even tried to strangle her. But she was able to get away and protect herself.
The federal investigation agency (FIA) received over 6000 reports of sexual harassment in August 2021, with the majority coming from college students who were being threatened by their peers, professors and coworkers. Images and videos captured during recreational and educational activities were utilized as extortion threats.
As of November 2020, A campus protest against the abuse of female students by male lecturers was organized by female students at Islamia College, University of Peshawar. In the same month, around 300 students at Karakoram International University in Gilgit staged a demonstration in opposition to the alleged sexual harassment of a female student by a university employee.
Nadia, a young PhD candidate in molecular medicine at Karachi University, reportedly killed herself in August 2020 after complaining about being harassed by her supervisor.
Another issue broke out in 2020 at the prestigious Lahore Grammar School, when four instructors were fired after adolescent students alleged that staff had sent them offensive texts and photographs and had also tried to blackmail them.
The same year, a Gomal University lecturer was fired from his position after being found guilty of sexually harassing his students.
The “Protection against Harassment of Students in Educational Institutions Bill 2020” was approved by the 12 member standing committee on education of the Pakistani Senate on January 13 in order to make institutions safer and make it possible to bring criminal charges against harassing individuals like teachers.
A fourth-year student at Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Medical University (SKBBMU) and another student at the same institution both committed suicide in their dorm rooms in September 2019. Sexual harassment and blackmailing drove these two students to make the ultimate decision.
Before this, in October 2019, a case of University of Balochistan also came to light due to which parents kept their daughters at home and did not allow them to get higher education out of fear.
The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) unearthed the issue at the University of Balochistan, where a few employees are accused of installing covert cameras in Bathrooms and other areas of the campus in an effort to extort or harass female students.
In Pakistan, 62.2% of female college students reported experiencing sexual harassment while pursuing higher education, according to a survey. The Protection Against Harassment of Women at the Workplace Act of 2010 have not been very successful in reducing harassment in campuses due to the independence and internal autonomy of educational institutions. They claimed that sexual harassment prevented them from continuing their higher education, and the majority of females decided to leave higher education.
This is one of the factors contributing to Pakistan’s poor performance in the higher education system. Pakistan is 50th out of a total of 50 nations. It received a score of 92.0 out of 100. India, a rival and neighbour, received a score of 60.9 out of 100 and is ranked 24th in terms of the top higher education systems.
The country has failed to succeed as a “Safe Nation” for women, as evidenced by these devastating and heart wrenching incidents of blackmail and sexual harassment with females in educational institutions and workplaces.
Conclusion
The nature of these scandals has the potential to significantly affect Pakistan’s already-poor educational opportunities for women. These controversies prevent parents from afterwards sending their daughters to colleges and universities. Considering that women won’t read, how will Pakistan develop?
While these scandals provide conservative ideas a boost, education is nevertheless seen as a beacon of hope and encouragement for female participation in social activities.
Parents don’t let their daughters enroll in educational institutions for further education because they are dreadful of these wolves.
Thus, the hope of these girls that they will pursue further education, to serve their country, and uphold the honour of their parents are dashed. Last but not the least, who is accountable for the entire system? and who will dismantle this mafia?
Writer is analyst and staff member based at Multan