Islamia University Bahawalpur’s Vice Chancellor Dr Athar Mehboob has demanded proof for the claims that thousands of obscene videos had been recovered from three university officials arrested last week.

Dr Mehboob also said that female students of the varsity were defamed at the national and global levels when baseless propaganda targeted the university.

The vice-chancellor addressed a press conference on the last day in his job. He has completed his tenure.

He claimed that two of the three university official arrested were “honey-trapped”.

Dr Mehboob said police must provide the evidence of the thousands of videos it claimed were found in the mobile phones of university officials.

IUB security and finance chiefs were arrested last week and police accused them of running a sex and drug racket. The third official is the transport incharge of the university.

The arrest of three officials of the IUB and the alleged recovery of drugs and obscene photographs of female students from them shocked the country.

Rumour mills went into overdrive after the arrests with claims that over 5,000 videos were found in the possession of the detained official and that the group had been active for several years.

The VC said that he would present himself at every forum for accountability. The university should have been taken into confidence if there was any such complaint, he added.

Read more: NA standing committee directs issuing arrest warrants of Islamia University VC

‘No reality in claims’

Dr Mehbood said that the news regarding Islamia University was based on “assumptions and has no relation with reality”. He vowed to hold accountable any official of the varsity if they were found involved in any wrongdoing.

He accused the police of trying to extort money from some students and staff.

Read more: Police say Islamia university students were asked for ‘favours’ in return for passing marks

He said that at least two probes had opened in which the management will present the evidence to the higher authorities. At least two employees of the higher educational institute were honey-trapped, he claimed.

Dr Mehboob claimed that “some people” did not like the development at the IUB as it worked on projects worth billions of rupees.

The VC reiterated his claims that the varsity was defamed by falsely investigating a former army officer, who was pressured into giving statements.

He alleged that the district police officer of Bahawalpur initiated a politically motivated action against the varsity and its staff.

He demanded a thorough inquiry of the varsity, along with those who maligned the reputation of the institution.

Responding to a question regarding his appearance before the inquiry committee on July 26, he said that “he is the vice chancellor till July 25”.

Meanwhile, another video of Islamia University has surfaced, in which the helper of the varsity’s transport vehicle can be seen standing “indecently with the student in the moving bus”.

At least three officials of the IUB have been arrested in investigations. The arrests began when the Chief Security Officer Major (retd) Ijaz Akram was detained during a search.

Treasurer Professor Abu Bakar, Chief Security Officers Major (retd) Ijaz Akram, and Transport Incharge Mohammad Altaf – were arrested between July 21 and July 22.

All three of them have been accused of possessing drugs. Additionally, Abu Bakar and Ijaz Akram also face the allegation of possessing obscene videos and photos of women.