Islamabad, February 13, 2026: In a landmark ruling, the Office of the Federal Ombudsperson for Protection Against Harassment of Women at the Workplace has removed Dr. Shehzad Ali Khan, Vice Chancellor of the Health Services Academy, after finding him guilty of sexual harassment, abuse of authority, and quid pro quo misconduct under the Protection Against Harassment of Women at the Workplace Act, 2010.
The Federal Ombudsperson determined that Dr. Khan misused his institutional position to develop and sustain an inappropriate relationship with a student, who later became his junior colleague, granting her extraordinary access and professional privileges without lawful authority.
The defense’s claims of “consent” and “honey-trapping” were rejected, with the Ombudsperson ruling that consent is legally invalid where a clear power imbalance exists, particularly in teacher-student and senior-junior relationships. Evidence included intimate communication from the Vice Chancellor’s own phone, undue appointments, and unchecked proximity, establishing clear quid pro quo harassment.
Allegations of financial misappropriation against the student were dismissed due to lack of evidence, as no prior complaints or recovery proceedings had been initiated.
Concluding that the misconduct was proven beyond doubt and posed a risk of recurrence, the Ombudsperson dismissed Dr. Khan’s complaint, upheld the harassment complaint against him, and ordered his removal from service under Sections 4(ii)(c) and 4(ii)(e) of the Act. The decision reinforces that no public office is above accountability.
