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Netizens protest IBA Karachi's 'shameful' decision to expel student for exposing alleged harassment

Netizens protest IBA Karachi's 'shameful' decision to expel student for exposing alleged harassment

Many called for the decision to be reversed, arguing that people who speak up about harassment should be rewarded, not punished.
30 Sep, 2021

Twitter is in an uproar after the Institute of Business Administration (IBA) Karachi expelled a student for publicly highlighting an incident of alleged harassment on campus. Many netizens protested the "gross overreaction" from the university administration and called for the decision to be immediately reversed.

Mohammad Gibrail witnessed a female employee of the varsity's finance department being allegedly harassed by a male employee in a supervisory position. He shared about the incident in a Facebook post and was expelled for not using the "right channels that are expected to be followed" by the institute, according to a statement shared on IBA's Facebook page.

Gibrail's expulsion has drawn strong criticism from many on social media. Lawyer and activist Mohammad Jibran Nasir highlighted the expulsion and said IBA has "sent a message to all female staff/students that they should never rely on any eye witness if they face harassment, as anyone who speaks up like Gibrail will be expelled". "At the same time it has told it is teaching it students to stay quiet and keep your head down when you witness injustice," he said.

Actor Mahira Khan called the decision "shameful" and "sad" on Twitter.

"His crime was to speak against injustice and [for] women’s rights. Disgusted and appalled by this action by IBA Karachi," PPP leader Sharmila Faruqui tweeted angrily.

"This is a gross overreaction from IBA which must be set right," journalist Zarrar Khuhro tweeted. "Such measures can and will only backfire."

"IBA administration should be ashamed of itself," tweeted journalist Khurram Husain. "Expelling a student for a Facebook post is the height of idiocy."

"You know your 'disciplinary decision' lacks merit when it needs to be 'explained' with this long a statement which despite its verbosity makes for little actual sense," a tweet read.

"This is a terrible and outrageous decision by IBA Karachi," shared activist Usama Khilji. "People who speak up about harassment and abuse should be celebrated and awarded, not punished. Take this ridiculous decision back. All IBA alumni must raise their voice against this fascism by an education institute."

"IBA will be known for silencing people who come out with truth, it will be known for nurturing sexual harassers, it will be known for putting the safety of its female staff and students at risk," a tweet read. "Shame on you!"

IBA Karachi's decision sets a dangerous precedent of punishing those who speak up against sexual harassment on campus. The expulsion is as much an injustice to victims as it is to Gibrail whose only crime was to speak up about an incident he witnessed.

Comments

funnyman Sep 30, 2021 12:16pm
What else did you expect from this farce of educational institute? It was always this hypocritical. If you pay as much fees to any university they will also be hiring expensive teacher. It does change the love for predators and sexual harrassers in admin or at top. Dr. Abdul Wahab would have been disgusted at the current IBA Administration
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Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad Sep 30, 2021 12:24pm
When the going gets tough and the environments get rough, only the toughest and roughest get going.
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Abbasshah Sep 30, 2021 12:49pm
The case should be reversed &student be installed again.Truth to prevail.
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bkt Sep 30, 2021 01:08pm
To call it sexual harassment, you have to first prove it was sexual and not a case of a supervisor berating his subordinate. But then to suggest it implies a misogynist attitude towards all female students, is a step too far. You need to be balanced. If this noise continues, faculty and administration will feel harassed and start leaving or worse ,dropping standards to please students. The result, in the long run, will harm students a lot. At that point IBA will become just another institute graduating unemployable junk.
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rak Sep 30, 2021 01:10pm
such things in govt offices and such autonomus institutions are common in Pakistan.. media should have courage to call such witness on tv programme and give honanary degree appreciation award by the media forums bodies and make such courageous people as their production team or program hosts.... this will keep a pressure on such criminals minded people due to open media watch....
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NYS Sep 30, 2021 01:27pm
Gibrael one of prodgy pupil has been dismissed the leading varsity ,admin should sort out the alleged persons and float later ticket resolvation despite whistleblower cacophony
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faizan Sep 30, 2021 01:33pm
the expulsion came mainly due to the usage of social media - which to be honest does harm the overall decision outcome - if he complained to the IBA admin it was a good start to the enquiry - he has taken the right step but the wrong way unfortunately. social media sensation? And unfortunately us Pakistanis are more prone to breaking the rules in any form.
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Parvez Sep 30, 2021 01:39pm
Bad decision by IBA....lets hope the show that they are the " bigger person " here and do the right thing and cancel the order. But knowing our " baboo mindset " I doubt that will happen.
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Hasan Malik Sep 30, 2021 02:04pm
IBM made the right decision. This guy was accusing someone without any Proof and even gathering people on social media and everywhere. Where is the evidence of any harassment?. Such a dangerous country where anyone can accuse any other person by a Facebook post. If he has proof then he should bring it forward. Otherwise Accusing someone without any proof is not permissible in any court of the Law. Also the total fault of the employee was that he has told the female colleague the she is not going home until the assignment is done. This is how many Teachers do it. But this is not sexual harassment in any manner.
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Jo Sep 30, 2021 03:07pm
How about IBA taking swift action against the harasser. Dismissing the student is an act of weakness. It shows that processes don't work otherwise the student would have used them. It shows that IBA is into cover up than dealing with the problems. Shame on IBA managemt for getting rid of the whistle blower.
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jaredlee007 Sep 30, 2021 03:46pm
IBA needs to learn how to address matters in a calm way. Expelling students because they exposed IBA on social media is reflective of IBA's insecurity. No institution is perfect. So, what is the problem with IBA admitting mistakes. Social media has changed the world in many ways, but IBA is resisting this change. As a faculty member, my suggestion to IBA is: reinstate the student, start an impartial inquiry, and orient all students and staff that if something wrong happens then they should follow appropriate channels.
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Aziz Alam Sep 30, 2021 04:42pm
What a shame
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a sheikh Sep 30, 2021 04:48pm
Somebody should register FIR against administration for trying to cover up the incident. All should be locked up.
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Sara Sep 30, 2021 05:10pm
IBA's top administration seems to be occupied with an emotional, misogynist, and frat-boy-type mentality. This is how frat boys and their rich camaraderie bash those who dare speak against abuse. Shame on those who punished the person reporting abuse! Meanwhile, the abuser (the finance department's male employee) is sitting peacefully. The decision needs to be reversed through grace, dignity, and even-handedness. Try including some samjhdar female faculty in the committee for once. Notice that all signatories of the DC statement are men. A very immature team indeed. Please rectify this step before all the three signatories (men of course) go down in history as abettors of harassment and injustice.
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Khalid Sep 30, 2021 05:39pm
Shame on IBA
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Nayyar Rashid Sep 30, 2021 07:44pm
The Institute should apologize for its appalling action and also pay damages to the student and punish whoever is involved in this debacle.
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Mohsin J Sep 30, 2021 09:10pm
He is the only witness, fine. But how can he be the judge. IBA has the right to follow their procedures. You can’t just see something, give your verdict and then start agitate. Such matters do and should take proper procedure to investigate. This behaviour can be exploitative.
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Raza Abbas Sep 30, 2021 11:02pm
Quite an interesting situation as a student one has to abide to a code of conduct while it is good to be honest however there is a process one should not escalate issues directly on social media this is not appropriate. Secondly IBA administration should have handled the sensitive case with more tact not emotions expulsion is an extreme step. As a society both parties should learn the art of disagreement with professionalism not emotions. I am wondering does IBA have an ombudsman to mediate the role of corporate communications is key to ensure sanity prevails. Good luck to all.
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Fazal Karim Sep 30, 2021 11:26pm
Expelling a bright student when he was about to get degree is very harsh and devastating. After right or wrong action IBA should conduct through inquiry in to harassment charge.
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Sohail Ansari Oct 01, 2021 01:04am
@funnyman Not to mention Dr. Mukhtar, who consolidated the IBA's position in the country. He was Dr. Wahab's predecessor, though Dr. Wahab (who I studied under, MBA class of 1972) was a fine leader too. Seems the IBA is in pretty crappy hands now when a fine young man whom the entire country can be proud of, is treated this way.
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El Cid Oct 01, 2021 10:23am
Virtue signaling hacking away at protocol, quality, competence, discipline.
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El Cid Oct 01, 2021 10:40am
His lack of propriety, discipline and emotonal maturity makes one wonder how this guy got through IBA's admission filter.
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Jahan Ara Oct 01, 2021 11:46am
Social media is the most dangerous thing in the present time. He recorded a video and uploaded it. People are following it blindly. Where is the evidence?People like Gibrael are a threat to the peace. As they are the ones who just post everything on the social media. IBA has taken the right step by expelling him. It should be a clear message for every student that politics has no place in this institution. Bear in mind that Karachi university has been devastated due to students politics.
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M. Saeed Oct 01, 2021 12:45pm
Utterly shameful decision of the IBA Karachi! The Chief Justice of Pakistan should intervene and remove all the kinks to restore the damaged prestige of the Institute.
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chengez Oct 02, 2021 03:31pm
He should first end female harassment in the Lucky marwat !!!
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