Dear Friends,
The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information that Islamic fundamentalists have started directing educational institutions to take a stance against members of Muslim minority groups, particularly Shias, the second largest sect of Islam. This time a Pesh Iman (mosque leader), who is also lecturer, has targeted one of the largest engineering universities of the country, in Karachi. As a result, the University Vice Chancellor, the Dean of Faculty, and staff members have discriminated against an Assistant Professor Dilshad Akbar Ali, an Ismaili Shia. Due to the harassment she has suffered kidney failure and has high blood pressure.
The University authorities have refused to pay the hospital bills, as she is from a “non-Islamic sect”. She has been assigned more work to compensate for the leaves that she had to take on medical grounds. The continuing prejudicial and discriminatory attitude of the University authorities has sickened Ms. Dilshad further.
CASE NARRATIVE:
Ms. Dilshad Akbar Ali, 44, has been Assistant Professor of English in the humanities department of the NED University of Engineering, Karachi, for the past seven years. She belongs to Ismaili Shia community and has been suffering religious discrimination at the hands of the English Department’s Chairperson Dr. Sajida Zaki, Dean Dr. Tufail Jokhio, and Associate Professor Abdul Hayee Madni, who is also the Pesh Imam, i.e. local mosque leader.
Ms. Dilshad is also a victim of professional jealousy as her command over her subject is better than the Chair of the Department, attracted the Chair’s ire. Due to the discriminatory and prejudicial behavior of the administration, Ms. Dilshad’s health deteriorated. She has been in and out of the hospital since the beginning of this year.
In the months of March and April, Ms. Dilshad, despite her deteriorating medical condition, attended to the affairs of the Department. She managed in the face of Chairperson Ms. Zaki adding to her responsibilities. Though she was unable to even stand for a prolonged period and her doctor had advised her complete bed rest, she was tasked with added responsibility of hosting and arranging the convocation of the University. On top of this, she was asked to invigilate during the annual examinations, which requires constant standing and surveillance in the examination hall.
As a result of the fatigue, she collapsed and was put on a ventilator at the Aga Khan University Hospital on June 29. She was discharged on July 16, but her condition did not improve. As she had trouble breathing, she was again admitted to the Hospital on July 25, and has been on the ventilator since.
Her medical bill has amounted to a whooping Rupee 3 Millions of which Rupees 1.3 had been paid from her medical insurance, gratuity, and her family’s own fund. The University has not bothered to help her in her hour of need.
Due to the high blood pressure her kidneys have failed she has also suffered three bouts of pneumonia and measles, leaving spots all over her hand, legs, and face. Her doctor fears that she might not survive the resultant complication as she has physically become very weak.
The University, instead of providing her moral or financial support has granted her leave without pay and has refused to accept the Medical Certificate from the Hospital, stating that the paper work is incomplete.
The administration of the University maintains double standards with regard to paid leaves. The cronies of the Vice Chancellor are allowed unlimited leaves and perks, while those who are dedicated and are from religious minority groups are punished. The attendance record maintained by the University testifies to this fact.
The attendance record received by AHRC shows that Ms. Dilshad had been consistent in her attendance and had been reporting to duty every day ay 8:30 am, despite her health condition, and yet was reprimanded for being lazy in comments on the attendance sheet.
The local Mosque leader and lecturer on Islamiat, Mr. Abdul Hai Madani, is notorious for spreading hate, among the students and staff at the University. He is Pesh Imam at a local mosque, named Madani Masjid, located at Pehelwan Goth, Bhitai Abad, Gulistan-e-Johar, Karachi. He always refers to the case of Safoora Goth of Karachi with pride. This was an incident where about 50 persons from the Ismaili Shia Community were shot dead while travelling in their own community bus, very close to the NED University. The responsibility for the attack was claimed by a banned militant Islamic organisation, the Jindullah. It has been banned in Iran, Pakistan, and Afghanistan. The University authorities are very scared of this mosque leader, because they fear he can trigger a religious based agitation at any time.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
One of the largest public engineering varsities in the country has been suffering from the policy of religious discrimination, nepotism, and favoritism, due to the actions of its former Vice Chancellor Dr. Abdul Kalam, who successfully brought down the ranking of the once prestigious Engineering University. The current Vice Chancellor (VC), Dr. Afzal ul Haq continues the same policy, which has resulted in deteriorating standards of education at the University. The number of good teachers is decreasing by the day, as the VC does not like qualified and able teachers, who raise their voices in front of him. There are some University employees who also have construction companies registered in the University and they often get projects for construction on campus. They essentially approve their own company tenders and proposals.
On 28 May 2015, the NED University Teachers Association (NETA) and NED Employees Association (NEDEA) held a press conference demanding action against those responsible for the financial crisis and the illegal promotions of teachers. They also demanded establishment of a Departmental Promotion Committee and summoned a meeting of the Selection Board to approve promotions of teachers on merit. The press conference was held after an investigative report on financial crisis of NED University of Engineering and Technology (NEDUET) was made public. The report held NEDUET’s former authorities responsible for bringing the University to the state of financial crisis, involving Rupees 1.5 billion. The University has accumulated liabilities amounting to Rupees 1.30 billion due to mismanagement of funds by the administration.
SUGGESTED ACTION:
Please write letters to the following authorities calling upon them to hold an inquiry into NED Engineering University, which is turning into a place that is spreading hatred and religious discrimination. Please urge them to provide the best medical facilities to Assistant Professor Dilshad Akbar Ali, who is suffering from kidney failure and high blood pressure because of the hate campaign against her and her Ismaili Shia sect. The University authorities must pay her hospital bills. Staff members involved must be prosecuted on charges of spreading religious hatred and the mosque leader Madani must be expelled from the University.
The AHRC is writing a separate letter to the UN Special Rapporteur on the Question of freedom of religion and faith or belief calling for his intervention into this matter.
To support this case, please click here: SEND APPEAL LETTER
SAMPLE LETTER
Dear ………………..,
PAKISTAN: Shia professor religiously discriminated against and pushed to her death bed
Name of victim:
Ms. Dilshad Akbar Ali, Assistant Professor of English, NED university, Gulshan-e-Iqbal Karachi, Sindh
Names of alleged perpetrators:
1. Mr. Abdul Hai Madani, lecturer at NED University, and leader of a Mosque at Madani Mosque, Bhitai Goth, Gulistan-e-Johar
2. Ms. Sajida Jokhio, Chairperson of English department, NED University, Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Karachi, Sindh
Place of incident: NED Engineering University, Karachi, Sindh
I am writing to voice my deep concern regarding the religious discrimination meted out to a female assistant professor, who belongs to Ismaili Shia community. A Pesh Iman (the leader of the local mosque), who is also a lecturer, has targeted one of the largest engineering universities of the country in Karachi. The Assistant Professor, who belongs to the Ismaili Shia Community, has been discriminated against by the Vice Chancellor, the Dean of the faculty, and other staff members, due to which she is suffering from kidney failure and high blood pressure.
It is distressing for me that the university authorities have refused to pay her hospital bills, as she is from a “non-Islamic sect”. She had been assigned more work to compensate for the leaves that she took on medical grounds. The prejudicial and discriminatory attitude of the University has brought Ms. Dilshad to her deathbed.
According tp the information I received, Ms. Dilshad Akbar Ali, 44, has been Assistant Professor of English in the humanities department of the NED University of Engineering, Karachi, for the past seven years. She belongs to Ismaili Shia community and has been suffering religious discrimination at the hands of the English Department’s Chairperson Dr. Sajida Zaki, Dean Dr. Tufail Jokhio, and Associate Professor Abdul Hayee Madni, who is also the Pesh Imam, i.e. local mosque leader.
Ms. Dilshad is also a victim of professional jealousy as her command over her subject is better than the Chair of the Department, attracted the Chair’s ire. Due to the discriminatory and prejudicial behavior of the administration, Ms. Dilshad’s health deteriorated. She has been in and out of the hospital since the beginning of this year.
I shocked to know that in the months of March and April, Ms. Dilshad, despite her deteriorating medical condition, attended to the affairs of the Department. She managed in the face of Chairperson Ms. Zaki adding to her responsibilities. Though she was unable to even stand for a prolonged period and her doctor had advised her complete bed rest, she was tasked with added responsibility of hosting and arranging the convocation of the University. On top of this, she was asked to invigilate during the annual examinations, which requires constant standing and surveillance in the examination hall.
As a result of the fatigue, she collapsed and was put on a ventilator at the Aga Khan University Hospital on June 29. She was discharged on July 16, but her condition did not improve. As she had trouble breathing, she was again admitted to the Hospital on July 25, and has been on the ventilator since.
I am sickened to know that her medical bill has amounted to a whooping Rupee 3 Millions of which Rupees 1.3 had been paid from her medical insurance, gratuity, and her family’s own fund. The University has not bothered to help her in her hour of need.
Due to the high blood pressure her kidneys have failed she has also suffered three bouts of pneumonia and measles, leaving spots all over her hand, legs, and face. Her doctor fears that she might not survive the resultant complication as she has physically become very weak.
The University, instead of providing her moral or financial support has granted her leave without pay and has refused to accept the Medical Certificate from the Hospital, stating that the paper work is incomplete.
The administration of the University maintains double standards with regard to paid leaves. The cronies of the Vice Chancellor are allowed unlimited leaves and perks, while those who are dedicated and are from religious minority groups are punished. The attendance record maintained by the University testifies to this fact.
The attendance record received by AHRC shows that Ms. Dilshad had been consistent in her attendance and had been reporting to duty every day ay 8:30 am, despite her health condition, and yet was reprimanded for being lazy in comments on the attendance sheet.
I can imagine that how the standard of universities particularly professional one has been deteriorated that the prestigious university is rum by a ordinary Mosque leader (Pesh Imam). The local Mosque leader and lecturer on Islamiat, Mr. Abdul Hai Madani, is notorious for spreading hate, among the students and staff at the University. He is Pesh Imam at a local mosque, named Madani Masjid, located at Pehelwan Goth, Bhitai Abad, Gulistan-e-Johar, Karachi. He always refers to the case of Safoora Goth of Karachi with pride. This was an incident where about 50 persons from the Ismaili Shia Community were shot dead while travelling in their own community bus, very close to the NED University. The responsibility for the attack was claimed by a banned militant Islamic organisation, the Jindullah. It has been banned in Iran, Pakistan, and Afghanistan. The University authorities are very scared of this mosque leader, because they fear he can trigger a religious based agitation at any time.
Therefore I urge upon you to hold an inquiry into NED Engineering University, which is turning into a place that is spreading hatred and religious discrimination. I also urge you to provide the best medical facilities to Assistant Professor Dilshad Akbar Ali, who is suffering from kidney failure and high blood pressure because of the hate campaign against her and her Ismaili Shia sect. The University authorities must pay her hospital bills. Staff members involved must be prosecuted on charges of spreading religious hatred and the mosque leader Madani must be expelled from the University.
Yours Sincerely,
……………….
PLEASE SEND YOUR LETTERS TO:
1. Mr. Mian Nawaz Sharif
Prime Minister
Prime Minister House
Islamabad
PAKISTAN
Fax: +92 51 922 1596
Tel: +92 51 920 6111
E-mail: secretary@cabinet.gov.pk, pspm@pmsectt.gov.pk
2. Mr. Syed Qaim Ali Shah
Chief Minister of Sindh
The Government of Sindh Province
Karachi, Sindh Province
PAKISTAN
Fax: +92 21 920 2000
Email: pressecy@cmsindh.gov.pk
3. Mr. Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan
Minister
Ministry of Interior of Pakistan
R Block, Pak Secretariat
Islamabad
PAKISTAN
Tel: +92 51 9212026
Fax: +92 51 9202624
Email: interior.complaintcell@gmail.com, ministry.interior@gmail.com
4. Mr. Sohail Anwar Khan Siyal
Minister for Home
Government of Sindh
Barrack 79, Pakistan Secretariat
Near MPA hostel
Karachi, Sindh Province
PAKISTAN
Fax: +92 21 9204456
Tel: +92 21 9201920-1
E-mail: secy.home@sindh.gov.pk
5.Mr. Tahir Shahbaz
Registrar
Supreme Court of Pakistan
Constitution Avenue, Islamabad
PAKISTAN
Fax: +92 51 9213452
Email: mail@supremecourt.gov.pk
6. Chief Justice of Sindh High Court
High Court Building
Saddar, Karachi
Sindh Province
PAKISTAN
Fax: +92 21 9213220
E-mail: info@sindhhighcourt.gov.pk
7. Justice (Rtd) MajidaRazvi
Chairperson, Human Rights Development
Government of Sindh
Barrack number 92 Sindh Secretariat
4. B, opposite to Sindh Assembly Building
Karachi
PAKISTAN
Tel: +92 21 99207042-43
Fax: +92 21 99207044
E-mail: ministerhrd@sindh.gov.pk
8. Mr. Ghulam Haider Jamali
Inspector General of Police, Sindh province
Police Head quarter I.I Chundigar road
Karachi-PAKISTAN
Fax-+92-21-99212051
complaints@pprasindh.gov.pk
Thank you.
Urgent Appeals Programme
Asian Human Rights Commission (ua@ahrc.asia)
