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One of the reputed and prestigious universities of Pakistan, the Institute of Business Administration (IBA) Karachi, recently expelled one of its students for exposing an alleged case of on-campus harassment.
The concern remains questionable that expelling a student for speaking the truth and exposing harassment on campus is really a solution?
Who is Gibrail?
A student named Muhammad Gibrail who highlighted on Facebook alleged harassment with a woman employee on campus by a male staffer was expelled by the IBA.
Gibrail, who hails from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Lakki Marwat, was on a full scholarship and has been a star student. He was set to graduate in two months. The student said he was not even allowed to collect his possessions from the IBA hostel.
The case
The case surrounds a student named Muhammad Gibrail who supported the victim by lodging a formal complaint to relevant IBA authorities and writing about what he witnessed on Facebook.
Gibrail had posted details of the incident on social media without following standard operating procedures like filing a complaint with any of the committees or offices.
Stance of IBA
IBA has detailed that its disciplinary committee had decided to expel Gibrail to ensure the safety of students and to address their concerns in a timely manner.
The university clearly stated in its statement that sharing details of an alleged incident on social media without knowing the context of the situation is against the rules and regulations of the institution.
IBA claimed that the student had used the details and a picture of its employee even before the victim filed an official complaint which led to endangering the physical and psychological safety of the employee, his coworkers, and the department.
Jibran Nasir
According to lawyer Jibran Nasir, the representative of Gibrail, the IBA had accused Gibrail of posting the photo of the alleged harasser on social media and compromising his security. However, he said, the institute was silent on how the female victim’s security was compromised.
Nasir said, “She submitted her complaint a month ago and has not received a formal response. When she went to the anti-harassment committee, she was told ‘Gibrail ko to hum dekh lein gay, tum doosra koi eyewitness lao (We will deal with Gibrail, you need to bring some other eyewitness.)’ They eventually expelled Gibrail.”
Instead of heeding to legitimate demands of students for harassment free campus, student Gibrael who dared to speak out 1st has been reportedly recommended for expulsion by IBA Disciplinary Committee. But it’s always nice to read articles abt progressive politics by @EDIBAKarachi https://t.co/GDcJ18oRog
— M. Jibran Nasir 🇵🇸 (@MJibranNasir) September 29, 2021
The reaction
The recent expel of the student has caused outrage on social media and since then IBA and its management have been facing criticism for mishandling a serious matter of harassment with such ‘problematic’ disciplinary policies.
IBA leadership should’ve resolved the Gibrail case in a way that doesn’t discourage people from calling out harassment in future. They did the opposite, and sought cowardly refuge behind rules and procedures. It’s unbelievable administrative incompetence. #harassment https://t.co/DlZI60GzSo
— Saad Shafqat (@_saadshafqat) September 30, 2021
U know what would be a power move?
Lums sending Gibrail an offer letter.— Duttha (@Mussab46160872) September 30, 2021
Gibrail is appealing the expulsion decision. Make enough noise that the IBA Board of Governors realizes brushing harassment under the rug is actually what defames the institution, and reverses the decision. #ShameOnIBA
— Faizan. (@thoraoffbeat) September 29, 2021
More power to Gibrail – a student of IBA who didnt turn a blind eye over workplace harassment and reported it.
Well IBA has now expelled him for this post and ‘defaming the institute’. pic.twitter.com/66EDb2Q2R9
— anastipu (@teepusahab) September 29, 2021
