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Sunday, July 15, 2012
July 11, 2012Pakistani consular official recalled over sex assault allegationMaryam ShahThe Toronto SUNTORONTO - An official with the Consulate General of Pakistan in Toronto has been recalled following an inquiry into a sexual assault allegation.The married father of two allegedly assaulted a female passport applicant inside the North York consulate in February.Toronto Police were not called to investigate the matter. Consular officials conducted their own investigation which wrapped up late last month.After collecting statements from both sides, the investigative committee declared the man was "totally unfit" for government service.The committee "held the accused guilty of trying to use his position to coax the victim into a locked room with malicious intentions of molesting/physically assaulting her," said a consular report obtained by the Toronto Sun.The June 23 report shows that the allegation was reported on Feb. 12 by a "respected community member." The consular official allegedly took the victim "into an isolated locked room."The victim is identified as a Pakistani-Canadian woman from Thorncliffe. The report states that the employee was in charge of MRP (machine-readable passport) processing.The only people aware of the allegation were the accused, the victim, and committee members."Inquiry officers were told to type notes themselves to keep the inquiry confined within the four walls of the office," reads the report, signed by acting consul general Imran Ali.The document also states that the woman "did not go to Toronto law enforcement authorities on our assurances that we would hold an impartial inquiry and the culprit would be brought to justice."Sources confirmed no attempt was made to stop the woman from going to Toronto Police when the allegation first came to light.The report also states that the RCMP was informed about the inquiry "to pre-empt embarrassment" if the victim later contacted the authorities. It later acknowledged the possible "negative consequences" if the victim contacted Canadian law enforcement or media.When asked about the incident, acting consul general Imran Ali issued a statement this week, saying, "We endeavour to run a consulate which works for the welfare of the Pakistani-Canadian community and have personnel rules reinforcing the above principle."The report also detailed parts of the man's defence, noting he accused the woman of "being a liberal and a model" — accusations that the inquiry found "obnoxious and filthy."He also allegedly "tried to malign" two junior colleagues during his defence.Dismissed on June 25, the man is no longer inside the consulate. His visa expires in July.The report added, "He must be proceeded against by his department for removal of service on grounds of moral turpitude" once in Pakistan. Attempts to reach the man and the complainant were unsuccessful.-----
Veteran journalist Mahmood Hamdani Sb, former Resident Editor,
The Nation died today.
May Allah rest his soul in peace.
