Inquiry report finds IIUI security staff, PIMS officials negligent in handling sexual assault case

ISLAMABAD - The inquiry report of the sexual assault with an outsider at International Islamic University Islamabad (IIUI) has found the security staff and Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) officials negligent in preventing and handling the incident.
The inquiry report prepared by a senior official of the Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training (FE&PT) said that Col. Amjad, head of security staff at IIUI failed to protect the victim from the alleged offence and there was a serious lack of coordination, prompt reaction and responsible follow up on the matter. It also said that the security staff also failed to protect the honour of the victim by showing negligence in saving the statement of the victim by failing to avoid the video gone public, heavily defaming the victim and his family The report said that the staff also failed to give confidence to the victim so that he could have felt safe to file a complaint and got himself medically examined at the time of the alleged offence to get justice through the legal proceedings in the court of law. The inquiry report also said Dr. Qamar Rabbani, Medical Officer PIMS, Islamabad who received the victim also failed to examine the victim, knowing that he was under stress and fear of that gruesome offence and never allowed him to get counselling to examine before exiting the hospital. “The doctor should have insisted and reported the higher-ups in that matter and should have involved his colleagues to resolve the matter by consoling the victim. This shows the apathy and lack of concern on the part of the medical professional,” said the report.   It further said that Dr. Qamar Rabbani, Duty Officer at PIMS at the time the victim was brought after the alleged offence also showed negligence in consoling the victim to file a complaint and should have reported the matter above to the SHO in case of confusion. Failing to act diligently and not informing any higher-ups shows lack of sensitivity on the part of police officer as well. Had he told the senior officers, the loss of evidence could not have occurred.
The report recommended that all the deputed staff on the day should have proceeded on disciplinary grounds on criminal negligence and lack of duty to protect such incidents. The rector of IIUI to be directed to overhaul the whole administrative management system and the staff deployed should be adequately trained and sensitized to carry out their duty under high benchmarks of professionalism 
It said that responsibility is squarely on the shoulders of the security head and staff at the entry and exit gates. They ought to be immediately proceeded under disciplinary proceedings by the university administration. The security head, supervisor, and staff along with the Director Administration of IIUI shall also be immediately replaced and disciplinary proceedings may be initiated against them for their negligence. Doctors and paramedics staff may also be issued censures for showing negligence and lethargy during medical examination of the complainant.  The report said that the university has discrepancies which have been found in the statements recorded, sequence of events, and action taken by the IIUI. A serious lapse was observed in the entrance of students in university and recording of video. There was a serious lapse in the adherence of SOPs/Policy at the entrance, exit point and hostel of the IIUI. It said that the university lacked a proper control room of CCTV cameras. There is a contradiction in statements of the accused and evidence in CCTV footage. 
It also stated that the university lacks a mechanism of recording of visitors at entry, exit points and hostels as well as proper inquiry and legal course of action on such incidents.  “Security staff have no proper mechanism for checking and maintaining proper records in the log/register,” said the report.

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