Karachi: The Institute of Business Administration, Karachi (IBA Karachi) is addressing a complaint regarding alleged harassment that was filed against its Registrar by a former lecturer, Ms. Zahra Sabri. In alignment with its commitment to non-discrimination and gender empowerment, IBA Karachi emphasizes its dedication to resolving disputes professionally and in accordance with its core values.
According to Institute of Business Administration – Karachi, the complaint was reviewed by an Inquiry Committee under the Protection against Harassment of Women at the Workplace Act, 2010. The committee exonerated the Registrar but issued recommendations to the Competent Authority, suggesting an apology letter and compensation of PKR 300,000 to the complainant. However, the Competent Authority did not approve these recommendations as the complaint was not directly against IBA’s administration.
The complainant subsequently appealed to the Provincial Ombudsman Sindh. The Ombudsman did not affirm the Inquiry Committee’s recommendations but ordered the appointment of a new Competent Authority, citing a lack of power to review or disagree with the committee’s recommendations. In response, IBA challenged this decision in the Sindh High Court, arguing a misinterpretation of the Competent Authority’s powers.
The Sindh High Court has directed that no actions, including issuing the apology letter and compensation, be taken until the case is resolved. IBA clarifies that no judicial or quasi-judicial entity has confirmed the committee’s recommendations, and the legality of these recommendations remains undecided. IBA urges the public to refrain from forming opinions based on unverified information or narratives circulating on social media as the legal proceedings continue.