Controversial person in Punjab cyber-violence reforms committee

A teacher who was expelled from three top universities has been included in the committee

Punjab Chief Minister Hamza Shahbaz has constituted a cyber-violence reforms committee comprising some people who enjoy controversial fame in the country, Minute Mirror has learnt.

The primary purpose of the committee would be to identify and address online gender-based violence and sexual abuse.

At least one of the committee members has been found criticizing the state institutions. There is no representation of minorities, Muslim scholars, transgender, special needs persons and different geographies. There is a representation of NGOs. A member of the committee allegedly, besides criticizing the state institutions, also instigated his students in public sector institutions against the state. Later, he was expelled from prime teaching institution Government College University, Lahore.

The secret agencies have noted that the person was involved in controversial activities, including disseminating information urging the youth to rise up against state institutions. Dr. Ammar Ali Jan, a Cambridge graduate, first refrained from teaching at Punjab University Lahore after it was alleged that he took part in anti-state activities.

Ammar Ali Jan was fired from at least three mainstream universities – Government College University, Punjab University and Forman Christian College (A Chartered University). Jan himself describes that both of the former institutions had fired him citing national security as a reason. Jan is the founder of the Haqooq e Khalq Movement – a progressive movement for democracy in Pakistan.

Official documents say the awareness and curriculum change committee was constituted in the wake of the declared emergency in Punjab to counter the increase in the rate of sexual offenses against women and children. As per documents, the committee will have the mandate to review the existing best practices relating to the development of life skills and the curriculum in schools, focusing on health, hygiene, education, cybercrimes and emotional education to equip the children better to face any challenging situation to resist and report abuse.

The other terms of reference include developing broad contours of the syllabus for incorporation in the school curriculum through extensive consultations with stakeholders. It will also consult the education departments, private sector and donor agencies for developing textual content. The committee will develop awareness campaigns and communication strategies for advocacy to incorporate content about the prevention of child abuse and gender-based violence.

Educationist and author Dr. Iftikhar Ahmad said that the need was to constitute a committee, with its majority being educationists. He said that the inclusion of controversial people might not serve the purpose. The government should constitute two different committees to look into sexual harassment and curriculum issues, he suggested. Advocate Muhammad Amir questioned the inclusion of a man in the committee who was expelled from several universities.

The committee, comprising 27 members, will work under the supervision of Home Minister Attaullah Tarar. As per details, educationist Bushra Anjam Butt will be its convener and member of provincial assembly Kashif Ilahi will be the co-convener. The other members include MPA Hina Parvez Butt, the head of the prime minister’s strategic reforms unit Salman Sufi, lawyer Nida Usman, educationist Taimur Banday, journalist Munizae Jahangir, human rights activist Fatima Razaq, provincial coordinator Nabila Shaheen, livestock expert Saira Iftikhar, lawyer Seemin Ahmed, Ammar Ali Jan, head of the PU Communication Department Dr. Ayesha Ashfaq, gender specialist Azmey Khan, secretaries to School Education, Higher Education, Information, Primary and Secondary Healthcare, Specialized Healthcare, Human Rights and Minorities Affairs, Women Development, DIG (Ops), Special Secretary Home Department, Director General Public Relations, Director-General Punjab Information Technology Board and Managing Director Punjab and Textbook Board.