LGS suspends principal over sexual harassment scandal
–School management terminates Aitzaz Rehman Sheikh, Zahid Warraich, Umer Shareef and Shehzad Irshad after finding them guilty of sexual harassment
–LGS 1-A/1 Gulberg principal Mrs Shakil, administrator Maira Omair Rana, coordinator Rubab Hassan suspended
–Action taken after numerous LGS students said they were being harassed since 2016
LAHORE: The management of the Lahore Grammar School 1-A/1 Gulberg on Tuesday sacked four employees, including two teachers, after they were found guilty of sexually harassing female students.
Meanwhile, the District Education Authority has formed a three-member committee comprising educationists and government officers to probe the incidents at the elite school.
Aitzaz Rehman Sheikh, an A-Level faculty member, Zahid Warraich, also a faculty member, support staff Umer Shareef and custodian staff Shehzad Irshad were accused of harassment by female students, some of whom had left the school a few years ago and others who were still studying there.
The LGS management also suspended the services of the school principal Mrs Shakil, administrator Maira Omair Rana, and coordinator Rubab Hassan with immediate effect.
Pakistan Today tried contacting the said administrative officials but no response was received till the filing of this report.
Students said that they had lodged various sexual harassment complaints over the years against the accused but no action had been taken by the administration. Hence some of them were forced to leave the school and seek admission in other institutes.
The administration said that after receiving evidence against the accused, which included videos, photographs and indecent messages sent by them to students, all four persons involved were shown the door.
The students revealed that the chemistry teacher, Warraich, used to harass them by staring and trying to touch them inappropriately. They also said that he tried to sit with them in a manner that made it very uncomfortable for them to study.
They also spoke of a female teacher in the school who told them about how she was also a victim of harassment by one of the staff members at the institute but instead of taking action against the harassers, she told the students to remain silent.
On the other hand, the police said that they have not received any request from the school administration to take action against the four accused in the case.
Meanwhile, Human Rights Minister Dr Shireen Mazari has also taken notice of the incident and said that Ministry of Human Rights (MOHR) helpline 1099 is available for such complaints and for help of the victims.
