Plundering & Pillaging Protectors

Asem Mustafa Awan

Islamabad: The controversy surrounding Islamia University Bahawalpur has raised serious questions about the safety of students, oversight mechanisms at higher education institutions and the responsibility of those entrusted with protecting young people.
The allegations surrounding the university, including claims involving drugs, inappropriate recordings and the alleged misuse of surveillance equipment, have generated widespread concern. Reports of thousands of explicit videos linked to the case have further intensified demands for a transparent and independent investigation.
But the most important issue emerging from the controversy is not the private lives of students. It is whether an institution responsible for educating and protecting them had adequate safeguards in place to prevent exploitation, harassment and the misuse of technology.
Students should not be made to carry the stigma of an institutional scandal. In particular, female students who had no involvement in the alleged wrongdoing should not be subjected to suspicion, social pressure or questions about their character simply because they attended the university.
The allegations instead raise questions about institutional responsibility. If hidden cameras were installed or private material was recorded without consent, investigators must establish who installed the equipment, how long it operated, who had access to the recordings and whether the material was used for exploitation, intimidation or financial gain.
The role of university officials, security personnel and any other individuals named during the investigation should be determined strictly through evidence and due process.
The Higher Education Commission has constituted a committee to examine the matter, but the credibility of any inquiry will depend on its independence, expertise and transparency. Investigators should establish not only what happened but also whether warning signs were ignored and whether existing complaint and monitoring mechanisms failed students.
The circulation of alleged recordings on social media also requires scrutiny. Authorities should determine how the material became public, who distributed it and whether students whose privacy was violated are being protected from further harm.
The controversy also highlights wider weaknesses that may exist across Pakistan’s higher education system. Universities need stronger mechanisms for reporting harassment, protecting whistleblowers, monitoring campus security systems and dealing with allegations against staff members without fear or favour.
The drug allegations, if established, would also require a serious institutional response. Universities cannot allow campuses to become environments where students are exposed to exploitation, coercion or criminal activity.
At the same time, sweeping claims about Pakistan’s universities should not be based on one case before investigations are completed. A credible inquiry into the IUB controversy could instead identify specific institutional failures and provide a blueprint for preventing similar incidents elsewhere.
The ultimate test of the investigation will be whether it protects the victims, establishes responsibility through evidence and ensures accountability regardless of an accused person’s position, connections or influence.
Universities exist to prepare young people for their futures. The responsibility of administrators, teachers and security officials is therefore not simply to manage campuses, but to create environments where students can pursue education without fear of exploitation or violations of their privacy.
The IUB controversy should serve as a warning that student safety and institutional accountability cannot be treated as secondary concerns. A transparent investigation, meaningful reforms and stronger safeguards are essential if universities are to retain the trust of the students and families who depend on them.

The article is the writer’s opinion, it may or may not adhere to the organization’s editorial policy.

Asem Mustafa Awan has extensive reporting experience with leading national and international media organizations. He has also contributed to reference books such as the Alpine Journal and the American Alpine Journal, among other international publications.