- The police arrested two officials of the university for possession of drugs.
- The university has also started investigating the matter.
- The university management has suspended two officials.
Interim Chief Minister of Punjab Syed Mohsin Naqvi on Monday constituted a three-member inquiry committee to probe “drug smuggling and unethical activities” at Islamia University Bahawalpur.
Naqvi tweeted, “A high-level 3-member team, including a provincial secretary and two DIGs, will submit an inquiry report within 72 hours. The law will take its own course, and all those involved in this shameful incident will be dealt with according to law. Let us strive for a safe and morally upright society.”
The committee comprises Secretary Minerals Babar Aman Babar along with DIG Amin Bukhari and DIG Raja Faisal to thoroughly probe all aspects of the dispute, identify the persons involved and submit a report to the Chief Minister.
The case pertains to the arrest of Mohammad Abu Bakr, director finance of the university, who was taken into custody by the police on June 24.
The university official was arrested at a checkpost, where police found crystal ice and other banned drugs, for which he was later charged. geo news informed of.
Syed Ijaz Hussain Shah, the university’s chief security officer, was also arrested by the Baghdad-ul-Jadid police three days ago under similar circumstances. Police had seized the mobile phones of both the university officials, after which they conducted a forensic test.
Inappropriate videos, pictures and chats of students and officials were found in their seized mobile phones, following which the police submitted a comprehensive report to the Chief Minister of Punjab.
As per reports, the two arrests were made after the police acted on an inside tip. The university has already termed the episode as “unfortunate”, adding that the institute has taken action against it.
The university also said that it has received 22 such complaints. However, later, Vice-Chancellor Dr. Athar Mehboob wrote to the Inspector General of Punjab, mentioning that the police had taken illegal action against the university officials and demanded an inquiry committee of senior officials to look into the issue in a transparent manner.
Denying any illegal activity, he said those who are scared of the development of the university are trying to defame it.
The university also formed an internal committee to investigate the matter, following which both the suspects have been suspended.
The university also announced drug testing of all its employees, including the VC – a decision taken in the wake of the arrest of its officials.
In a press statement, the IUB Public Relations Department claimed that the university has adopted zero tolerance against drugs in its campus, as per the directive and guidelines of the Higher Education Commission (HEC).
Forensic examination of the mobile phone has been completed, police said, while the report also includes records of outgoing and incoming calls made from the suspect’s phone.
