Quetta: Chief Justice Balochistan High Court, Justice Jamal Mandokhail, has said that the accused in the University of Balochistan (UOB) scandal must be arrested to restore the credibility of the institution. He made these remarks while hearing the UOB video blackmailing scandal case in Balochistan High Court, on Tuesday.
Justice Mandokhail said that mere suspension of the accused is not enough and the accused should also be arrested.
UOB scandal was revealed earlier this month by media. The security personnel of UOB had unlawfully installed secret cameras in different locations of University, which recorded the students in compromising situations. Later the videos were allegedly used to blackmail the students, who were both male and female. Students were allegedly blackmailed for money and female students were also sexually harassed.
Several political parties, student organizations and the members of civil society strongly protested against the UOB scandal and demanded dismissal and arrest of the accused involved in the scandal.
During the court proceedings, Justice Mandokhail told parliamentary committee members that huge responsibility lies on their shoulders. He said that it’s a sensitive matter of our province and our children study in this university.
Justice Mandokhail asked the caretaker VC of UOB Professor Anwar Panezai to take action against the culprits or resign for this position if he is unable to so.
Mahajabeen Sheran, the chairperson of the parliamentary committee on the UOB scandal, told the court that over 200 complaints were received by the office of Vice-chancellor (VC) of UOB but no action was taken.
Federal Investigation Agency, which is investigating this scandal, presented its report to the court. Chief Justice ordered FIA not the make the report public.
FIA latest issued a press release asking the media personnel to verify the news related to this matter before making it public.
FIA press release claimed that Cyber Crime Wing of the agency started investigating this matter on 26th August on the instructions of Balochistan High Court. FIA claimed that they have investigated 12-25 accused employees of UOB but have not made any arrests so far. FIA denied the claim that secret cameras were installed in the washrooms of the university.
FIA press release further stated that there was no mechanism to report sexual harassment in UOB and Standard Operating Procedure for operating the CCTV cameras was also missing in the university.
The case was adjourned till 4th November for the next hearing.
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