BAHAWALNAGAR: A female teacher of a government high school has accused the school education department officials of “ignoring” her harassment and blackmail complaint against the school head and “favouring” the accused by taking no stern action against him, demanding a fair probe into the issue and his suspension from service.

The complainant, a widow, ‘N’, in her written complaint to the district education authority chief executive officer (CEO) alleges that she has been teaching at the Government High School, Chak Bala Araaian, for the last many years, where the accused head, ‘Z’, was posted a year ago.

She alleges that the head has been using obscene language in front of female teachers and makes advances to her, besides blackmailing her by threatening to hold a departmental inquiry against her when she resists.She claims that ‘Z’ has been facing similar charges punishable by sacking from service during his posting at other public institutions, including Gulab Ali and Noor Sir schools, because of his immoral activities and corruption.Complainant’s uncle Wali Muhammad, while showing distrust on the earlier action(departmental probe) initiated by the CEO against the accused, says it is a case of harassmentat workplace, demanding the school head’s immediate suspension from service.

He alleges the probe initiated by the CEO is meant to let the accused off the hook.He says that in response to the complaint filed on Jan 20, District Education Officer (DEO) Gulzar Ahmad and his deputy Sumaira Shaheen, visited the school on Jan 25 but instead of holding an inquiry had tea with the school head and left.

The complainant says after being disappointed by the “cold response” by the department high-ups and the district administration to her complaint, she was forced to approach the office of the Punjab Woman Ombudsperson.

When contacted for his stance, the accused ‘Z’ claimed he was with a patient at hospital and would reply later, but he did not.

CEO Education Shahida Hafeez says that only the education secretary was the competent authority and could suspend the school head, if found guilty in the probe.

She says that the inquiry committee has submitted its report on Jan 26 (Wednesday) at 4pm and in the light of the probe she has issued a transfer orders of ‘Z’ to Dahranwala Higher Secondary School.

She says another probe into the issue was also underway, adding that she will take the matter with the education secretary in the light of its report.

Published in Dawn, January 27th, 2022