A bizarre incident took place in the Pakistan Capital Islamabad where a lecturer at a University was terminated for asking a question about incest. The “highly objectionable” and “immoral” question was included in the examination paper of English for the Bachelor of Electrical Engineering (BEE) programme at the Comsats Institute. This left the student baffled and shocked.
According to the details, the students were asked to write a 300-word essay on the objectionable question in their English exam in December last year. The paragraph titled ‘The Julie and Mark Scenario’ states:
“Julie and Mark, who are siblings, decide that it would be interesting and fun if they tried making love. At the very least, it would be a new experience for each of them. Julie was already taking birth control pills, and Mark uses a condom,” the section of the Quiz reads, asking students to share views on the sexual intercourse between the siblings.
Amid an uproar among students, the Ministry of Science and Technology (MoST) directed the university to inquire into the matter and take strict action against the responsible quarters. The university was also required to submit a report within a week.
“The Hon'able Federal Minister for Science and Technology has taken serious notice and shows his great concerns and grievance about the content of the quiz on the English subject of Bachelor of Engineering of COMSATS University Islamabad (CUI). The quiz was conducted on the 4th/5th of December, 2022. The quiz content is highly objectionable and totally against the curriculum laws of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and caused unrest amongst the families of the students,” the January 19 letter of the ministry to the institute read.
In response, the university informed the MoST that the teacher who prepared the question paper had been terminated. It further said that the teacher had also been blacklisted for future employment.
“I am directed to refer to the Ministry of Science and Technology (MoST) letter No. 1(10)12023-DIR-M(S&T) dated January 19, 2023, on the above subject and to convey that action on the matter has already been taken, and the service of K (name withheld), Lecturer (Visiting Faculty), has been terminated w.e.f. January 5, 2023.”
“The rector called the lecturer to explain the matter, and he admitted his mistake. He had plagiarised the question from Google,” said Additional Registrar Naveed Ahmed Khan.
Outrage Sparked
Netizens expressed anger over the controversial examination and called on the government to take strict action against those behind it. People from all walks of life demand strict action against the professor for posting such an obscene question. Senator Mushtaq Ahmed took the issue to the upper House of Parliament and insisted the government probe the matter.
A faculty member took a dig at the examination system questioning why the case was only addressed after students raised the issue. He doubted that the lecturer had been sacked after the ministry took notice of the incident.
“What happened in Comsats doesn’t even happen here in West. Don’t blame West for everything. West is certainly not how it is fantasized by people in Pakistan, every school public or private stay supervised by Gov who make sure nothing objectionable go unnoticed.” a user tweeted.
The shocking incident in the conservative nation has also sparked outrage on social media. Social media is fuming as the quiz touches on, what is considered a taboo, topic in the modern world.
Case Registered
A case has been registered at the police station in the federal capital against COMSATS University Islamabad (CUI) lecturer over an objectionable quiz. The complainer, Muhammad Altaf, chairman of the lawyers’ wing of Pakistan’s ideological party, stated in his application that the lecturer had asked an obscene question contrary to Islamic teachings and social values in the English exam paper.
Share This Post On
0 comments
Leave a comment
You need to login to leave a comment. Log-in
