KARACHI: In a dramatic turn of events, a spontaneous protest led by students of the Institute of Business Management (IoBM) compelled the university administration to retract its rustication order against a female student accused of misconduct, following her public allegation of harassment by a campus staff member.
The unrest began when the student shared her experience on social media, alleging harassment by a transport-department official during a routine visit to address an ID card issue. Her post went viral, sparking outrage and uniting hundreds of students across departments who gathered outside the administration block chanting slogans for justice.
Instead of investigating the harassment complaint transparently, the university initially suspended the student — a move that ignited even greater anger among the student body. Within hours, the campus swelled with protestors demanding accountability and reinstatement, forcing the administration to engage directly with demonstrators.
In an attempt to diffuse tensions, IoBM announced a temporary shift to online classes “to avoid disruption” amid growing campus unrest. However, the mounting pressure, coupled with the viral social-media campaign, pushed the university to finally roll back the rustication order, reinstating the student and promising a review of its harassment-reporting policies.
Student activists hailed the decision as a landmark win for youth activism, celebrating what many dubbed as a “Gen-Z movement” — one that demonstrated how collective action and digital mobilization can challenge institutional rigidity. Human-rights advocate Jibran Nasir emphasized that the reversal, though welcome, underscores a deeper issue of inadequate protection mechanisms for harassment victims within educational institutions.
The IoBM administration has now vowed to revisit its procedures under the “Protection Against Sexual Harassment” policy, pledging clearer awareness and transparency in future cases. Yet, the episode stands as a powerful reminder of how swiftly a united student voice can reshape institutional narratives in the modern era.
This story has been reported by PakTribune. All rights reserved.