Dr. Hafiza Ayesha Khan, former Deputy Director at the Office of Research, Innovation and Commercialization (ORIC), has alleged that she was dismissed from her position at the Health Services Academy without prior notice and was falsely implicated in a criminal case. She also claimed that her PhD fellowship was abruptly terminated, raising concerns about the misuse of authority and the protection of scholars in academic institutions.
Speaking at a press conference at the National Press Club Islamabad alongside her legal counsel Advocate Muhammad Younas Awan, Dr. Khan detailed the circumstances leading up to her dismissal. She stated that following an attack on July 17, she faced retaliatory actions including the filing of what she described as false FIRs and the suspension of her fellowship, all without any formal inquiry. Despite immediately reporting the attack, Dr. Khan noted that an official police report was only filed after a delay of 12 days.
In response to these events, Dr. Khan has appealed to the university’s president and chancellor regarding her service termination, and has also filed a complaint with the Federal Ombudsperson for Protection against Harassment (FOSPAH). She stated that she will continue to pursue her legal rights through all available forums, emphasizing that her struggle is for due process, dignity, and equality as guaranteed by the constitution.
Dr. Khan highlighted that no female scholar should lose her career for reporting harassment and called attention to what she described as the misuse of powers by the current Vice Chancellor. She stated that her case raises important questions about academic freedom, workplace safety, and constitutional protections in Pakistan’s higher education system.
