Muhammad irshad ullah
Peshawar, Oct 9, 2025: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Ombudsperson for Protection Against Harassment of Women at the Workplace has overturned the dismissal of an assistant professor at Islamia College University, Peshawar, declaring the allegations against him baseless and ordering his reinstatement.
According to the official decision issued by the Ombudsperson’s office, the assistant professor was terminated on May 17, 2025, following allegations of sexual harassment levelled by a female student.
The professor, however, challenged the decision, claiming that the action taken against him was one-sided and based on false accusations.
The ruling noted that the dismissal was “unlawful, biased, and contrary to the fundamental principles of justice”, adding that Vice Chancellor Dr Ziaul Haq had exceeded his authority and acted on “political grounds” when ordering the termination.
Following a detailed examination of the case record, the Ombudsperson concluded that the allegations lacked evidence and were unjustified. The dismissal order was subsequently nullified, and directives were issued for the professor’s immediate reinstatement.
The appeal was filed by former additional attorney general Advocate Syed Asif Jalal, who argued that the university had failed to observe due process and carried out unilateral disciplinary proceedings.
The Ombudsperson upheld this position, stating that the character assassination of the faculty member had caused irreparable damage to his professional reputation, warranting corrective measures.
The decision further stated that the university may initiate a fresh and impartial inquiry under relevant legal provisions, should it deem necessary. However, in the light of the current findings, the assistant professor has been “fully exonerated” of all charges.