The University of Engineering and Technology (UET) has dismissed Hafiz Muhammad Shehbaz from his role as chairman of the Islamic Studies department.
This decision comes in light of serious accusations, including hate speech targeting minorities and the leak of a PhD exam paper. The UET syndicate, led by Vice-Chancellor Dr. Nasir Hayat, made this determination during a meeting. Dr. Tanveer Qasim, a fellow member of the department, raised the allegations against Shehbaz, accusing him of delivering hate speech and leaking a PhD exam paper.
After reviewing the evidence, which included a video containing hate speech, the syndicate found Shehbaz guilty of misconduct.
In response, UET has appointed Dr. Shahid Rafiq, the dean of the Natural Sciences department, to assume the additional responsibilities of the chairman. Both the Higher Education Department and the Punjab Higher Education Commission had previously requested detailed reports regarding Shehbaz’s conduct.
Dr. Qasim’s petition brought attention to Shehbaz’s public speeches against minorities, sparking concerns within minority communities and attracting widespread media coverage.
Prior to this action, a UET inquiry had investigated the leaked PhD exam paper, which circulated on social media. The inquiry recommended further investigation by the FIA cyber crime wing to identify those responsible.
Furthermore, UET established a committee to investigate allegations of paper leakage during the PhD Islamic Studies entrance test. Dr. Qasim had filed a complaint with the Anti-Corruption Establishment in October 2021 after receiving no response to his initial complaint to the dean in August.
Following a directive from the Higher Education Department on December 20, 2021, UET VC Prof Dr. Mansoor Sarwar formed the committee.
