Lahore(Education Reporter)
A scandal involving the alleged harassment and blackmailing of female students has surfaced at the Sports Department of the University of the Punjab, Lahore—a matter reportedly several weeks old.
Sonia Farooq, a national-level athlete who has won 29 medals, has accused the university administration of withholding 2.5 million PKR of her dues and engaging in harassment. Speaking to Daily Khabrain, Samira Bashir stated that the issue began when Admin Officer Ilyas Bhatti started recording videos of the female students and harassing them. She added that instead of taking action on their complaints, the administration forcibly evicted them from the hostel.
The students have leveled serious allegations against Sports Department Admin Officer Ilyas Mubeen Bhatti, claiming he pressured them into establishing illicit relationships, threatened them with dire consequences upon refusal, and went so far as to threaten to “bury them inside the university.” Sonia Farooq further alleged that officers conditioned the release of her pending payments on her agreeing to dine out and stay at hotels with them. Sumaira Bashir also made startling revelations, alleging that videos of students were secretly taken while they were sleeping in the hostel to blackmail them.
Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the university administration refuted the claims, stating that the allegations are baseless, fabricated, and contrary to the facts. The spokesperson claimed that a “mafia” operating behind the scenes surfaces every year during the admission season. It was further stated that action against the former students was taken strictly in accordance with rules due to multiple disciplinary violations at the Girls’ Sports Hostel. The Sports Department has lodged a formal complaint with the police against the former students for interference in state operations, damaging public property, and blackmailing, while also filing a complaint with the cybercrime unit against the organized social media campaign.
Additionally, a video statement was released by the Director of the Sports Department, Shabbir Sarwar, along with Additional Director Tahira and Admin Officer Ilyas Bhatti. In the video, Director Shabbir Sarwar termed the entire issue a mutual dispute between female students.