Abusive words fall within ambit of harassment: Kashmala Tariq

Subordinate used foul language in front of the entire office staff, says complainant in application

ISLAMABAD: Federal Ombudsperson for Protection against Harassment of Women at the Workplaces Kashmala Tariq said on Thursday that usage of words “bastard” and ‘Ullo ki Pathi’ fall within the ambit of harassment.

A resident editor of an English newspaper filed an application with the anti-harassment cell against her male colleague.

In her plea, the complainant claimed that her subordinate used the foul language against her when she inquired about the task she had assigned to him.

“He used words “bastard” and “Ullo ki Pathi” in front of entire office staff,” the plaintiff said in the application.



The complainant linked the incident to sexual harassment.

However, the respondent in the case refuted all the allegations and challenged the jurisdiction of federal ombudsman.

The defender argued that the allegations do not come under the definition of harassment.

Ombudsperson Kashmala said in her written verdict that as per the available record the said words comes under the ambit of harassment and rejected the respondent's application.