The Islamabad Police have registered a case against the Vice Chancellor of Health Services Academy, Islamabad, Dr. Shahzad Ali Khan, on allegations of torturing and injuring a young female medical officer from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa inside his university car. The complainant, hailing from Battagram, had been given the post of Director Vice Chancellor three years ago and was serving as Deputy Director at the university when the incident took place on July 17.
The young officer has accused Dr. Shahzad Ali Khan of exploiting her trust over the past three years by professing love, promising marriage, and repeatedly pressing her to enter into a secret marriage with him despite already being married with grown children. According to her, the Vice Chancellor insisted that an open marriage would have negative consequences for his married daughter, and therefore urged her to agree to a secret union. When she refused, she alleged that he not only prevented her from marrying elsewhere but also subjected her to psychological and physical pressure. Matters escalated, she claims, when she again refused his demands, leading to an incident in which she was physically assaulted inside the car of the Vice Chancellor, causing injuries later confirmed in a PIMS medical report submitted to the Women’s Police Station.
When asked for his response to the allegations, Dr. Shahzad Ali Khan admitted knowing the complainant for three years and said he had treated her with care because of her modest background. He claimed that he had transferred a total of four crore rupees to her, including one crore in cash, on the understanding that she would purchase property in his name. According to him, when he later demanded that the property be transferred, she resorted to blackmail. He further stated that he had visited her home in Battagram and even met her parents, denying that his intentions were insincere.
Upon being questioned about the source of such a large amount, particularly the cash, and why he entrusted it to a female officer of his own university, Dr. Shahzad said he had sold a car and used other personal funds, insisting that the money was given because she had promised to buy property. He also mentioned that attempts at reconciliation were made but claimed her conditions were too strict and unacceptable.
When confronted with the concern that such conduct, if proven true, damages not only his personal reputation but also tarnishes the name of the university where hundreds of students pursue their education and training, Dr. Shahzad was unable to provide a convincing explanation.
Meanwhile, the complainant has reportedly been dismissed from her university position after filing the FIR against the Vice Chancellor, a development that raises further questions about the handling of the case and the treatment of whistleblowers within academic institutions.
