Alvi upholds penalty of employee dismissed on harassment charges

President also enhances penalty against accused for causing trauma to female officer

ISLAMABAD:

President Dr Arif Alvi has upheld the penalty of dismissal from service on the Assistant Vice President of the Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited (ZTBL) after it was proven that he had sexually harassed a female employee of the bank.

The president also enhanced the fine of Rs500,000, imposed by the Federal Ombudsman for Protection against Harassment of Women at Workplace (FOSPAH), to Rs600,000 on the accused considering the serious mental trauma he must have caused to the victim.

Dr Alvi gave this decision while rejecting a representation filed by an Assistant Vice President ZTBL (the accused) against the decision of FOSPAH. He also rejected the representation filed by ZTBL in this case on account of the bank having no locus standi, said a press release issued by the President's Secretariat.

In his decision, the president stated that the accused had failed to point out any irregularity in the proceedings conducted by FOSPAH which were based on the true appraisal of evidence. “In Pakistan, the message of the constitution, the law, and its implementation are loud and clear that we want to ensure a society where women are free to work and have a safe environment in all public places that allows them to become fully participating members of society”, he added.

The president also upheld the order that since the complainant had been terminated from service in utter violation of the law and rules i.e., conducting no regular inquiry against her and providing no opportunity hearing to her, the termination order of the victim was quite illegal and unlawful and could not stand intact.

He further upheld FOSPAH’s direction that it would be deemed as if no order of termination was made and the complainant was still a bank employee, and she would be entitled to all her benefits till today.

The president rejected the representation by stating that the accused failed to cross-examine the complainant on vital aspects of the matter.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 14^th, 2023.