The incidents of harassment, torture, blackmailing and allegedly even death of female students in Sindh’s universities cannot be ignored and must be investigated. There have been several cases of the constant harassment of female students in universities and the failure of the provincial authorities to take action against the incidents of violence against women.
The incidents of sexual harassment at educational institutes is a matter of great concern. The recent case of Parveen Rind, a nursing officer in Nawabshah, has once again exposed the prevalence of such atrocities in academic institutions. There were similar cases in the past – Nosheen Kazmi, Naila Rind and Nimrata Kumar – but no action was taken and the deaths were ruled as a suicide.
An investigation in the death of two girls in Larkana – Nosheen Kazmi, who was recently found dead, and Nimrata Kumari who died two years ago – made the shocking revelation that the same suspect may be responsible. Yet, no action has been taken against the perpetrators. In another incident, the vice-chancellors of two universities in Sindh have been sent on forced leave over allegations of harassment and violence against female students.
There is already a low rate of literacy in the province, even lower for girls. The rising harassment will discourage women from pursuing an education, forcing them to stay at home. A college or university should provide a conducive environment where they are safe and given an opportunity to develop personally and academically. Incidents of harassment and torture will adversely affect them.
It is imperative for the government to find those responsible for sexual harassment in educational institutes. It is also the responsibility of the state to provide safety to all citizens. More importantly, the heads of universities should show zero tolerance towards such incidents on campus. The involvement of any official must be dealt with strictly to keep institutes safe for female students who desire to pursue higher education.
