QUETTA: Prof Dr Javed Iqbal, the vice chancellor of University of Balochistan, on Sunday stepped down from the post until the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) completes its inquiry into a major harassment and blackmailing case against staff members.

“On request of the Vice Chancellor, University of Balochistan, that, to let the FIA conduct a fair inquiry into the recent cases of harassment in the university; the Hon’ble Governor Balochistan/Chancellor UoB has accepted stepping down from his responsibilities as VC, UoB till finalisation of the inquiry report of FIA,” read a notification issued by the Balochistan governor’s secretariat.

It added that Professor Dr Mohammad Anwer Panezai has been given “lookafter charge of the Vice Chancellor” till further orders.

The case came to light about a month ago when the Balochistan High Court (BHC) directed the FIA to investigate reports of students being harassed on the campus.

The FIA later discovered that male and female students were being blackmailed by some staff members through ‘objectionable’ videos of them, recorded through CCTV cameras hidden at various places on the campus including its washrooms.

Various student organisations held protests to denounce the VC as “head of the blackmailers and saviour of the culprits.”

Balochistan Governor Amanullah Khan Yasinzai, who is also chancellor of all provincial universities, earlier vowed to take strict action against criminals involved in harassing and blackmailing students.

On Saturday, Fareed Achakzai, a professor, had claimed that vice-chancellor Dr Jawed Iqbal was fired for harassing foreign students in 1992.
Dr Iqbal, on the other hand, has rejected these accusations. “These are based on lies,” he said. “Achakzai is not even a professor. He is a lecturer but claims to be a professor. He has even been involved in appointing people illegally.”
The varsity and Dr Iqbal have been receiving widespread criticism after students claimed that CCTV footages were being used by its admin to blackmail them for sexual favours.
Along with the CCTV cameras on campus, the students have said that they were being monitored through additional cameras and microphones placed in washrooms and smoking areas.
The university’s professors and staff members confirmed to the media that they have seen these ‘secret cameras’.
The MPAs and the high court have ordered an investigation.
Balochistan High Court Chief Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail had directed the FIA to investigate complaints of students being harassed at the varsity last month and submit a report by October 27.
The FIA has been examining the case for several weeks now.
The officials, however, refused to reveal their findings. “We have not arrested any official of the university and will inform the media through a press conference,” an FIA officer said.