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Dr. Hafiz Ishaq, Head of the IT Department at the Federal Urdu University of Science and Technology (FUUAST), has been dismissed from his position and fined one million rupees by the Federal Ombudsperson for Protection Against Harassment (FOSPAH). The verdict, delivered by Ombudsperson Fauzia Waqar, comes in response to a workplace harassment complaint filed by FUUAST lecturer Ms. Arooj Malik.
Following the judgment, Dr. Ishaq is mandated to remit Rs800,000 to Ms. Malik as compensation and to deposit Rs200,000 into the national treasury. The university has been directed to implement these penalties and submit a compliance report to FOSPAH by December 5th, 2024.
The case emerged from an official complaint lodged by Ms. Malik, a lecturer in the Business Administration Department at FUUAST, who reported experiencing persistent harassment by Dr. Ishaq over an extended period of several years. Efforts to resolve the issue through internal mechanisms were unsuccessful, prompting her to escalate the matter to FOSPAH after the university’s inquiry committee failed to provide an adequate response.
During the investigation, Ms. Malik provided evidence and testimony that went unrefuted, prompting FOSPAH to determine that Dr. Ishaq had contravened the Protection Against Harassment of Women at the Workplace Act of 2010. A pivotal moment in the proceedings transpired when Dr. Ishaq acknowledged his involvement in physical harassment and extended an apology to Ms. Malik, thereby reinforcing the allegations levied against him.
This decision is being regarded as a substantial advancement in the pursuit of workplace safety and accountability. It emphasizes the obligation of institutions to treat harassment complaints with the utmost seriousness and to respond decisively against those who violate established standards.
