LAHORE: An officer from the social welfare department was awarded a penalty by Punjab Ombudsperson Rukhsana Gilani after he was accused of sexual harassment by the headmistress of a school.

According to legal assistant from the ombudsperson office, the headmistress had met the official in seminars where he represented the social welfare department, and where she was present as school principal.

The headmistress had complained to the ombudsperson office that the official had been calling and messaging her for no professional reason, that he had often ‘dropped in’ at her school or invited her over to his office. He also used to make offers of ‘friendship’ and had tried to hold her hand.

Legal assistant Mohammad Abbas said touching was always regarded as a serious offence.

“She had accused the official of a demeaning attitude, of physical conduct of sexual nature and pressurising her to accede to his demands,” he said. “She had also claimed that on her refusal to comply with his demands, the official tried to take revenge by defaming her.”

According to a provision of the Protection against Harassment of Women at the Workplace Act 2010, when the harasser runs a defamatory campaign against the complainant, this too is considered an act of harassment.

The ombudsperson concluded the inquiry finding the official guilty of causing harassment to the headmistress and awarded him a major penalty of ‘compulsory retirement.’

A total of 135 complaints have been dealt with since the inception of the department, while since April 2018, more than 50 have been disposed of.

The Punjab ombudsperson office was formed at the end of 2013. While women were not aware of its functions and the protection of their rights, a campaign launched later on spread awareness about the office and the law itself.

However, after [second] Ombudsperson Farkhunda Waseem Afzal stepped down, the department’s top slot stood vacant for nearly a year.

In April 2018, Rukhsana Gilani was appointed as provincial ombudsperson to oversee [harassment] cases.

Earlier, the department was only accepting new [complaint] cases, but was unable to register them because of absence of ombudsperson.

“We are not allowed to reject any complaint, but then after that they are just piled up, and no proceedings can take place,” said Abbas.

Published in Dawn, November 27th, 2018