President upholds dismissal of GM PTV on harassment charges

Says both our religion and our law vehemently condemn such practices

President Dr Arif Alvi has upheld the penalty of dismissal from service and a fine of Rs1 million, imposed by the Federal Ombudsman for Protection against Harassment of Women at Workplace (FOSPAH), against General Manager (GM) of Pakistan Television (PTV) Khalid Mehmood Lakhan.

This decision follows Lakhan's substantiated guilt on the charge of sexually harassing a makeup artist at the PTV Centre in Multan, under Section 4 of the Protection against Harassment of Women at Workplace Act 2010.

The President dismissed the appeal submitted by the GM PTV against the decision of FOSPAH, stating that both our religion and the law vehemently condemned such practices. This dismissal is an important message to the society, women workforce, anti-social and potential harassers that Pakistan would not tolerate such acts, he added. He said that FOSPAH has also directed the MD PTV to impose the penalties upon the accused within one week and submit a compliance report to FOSPAH.

The President in his decision observed that the proceedings of the case were repeatedly adjourned, adding that the accused misused the liberty and grace shown by FOSPAH by availing repeated adjournments on one pretext or the other. He further stated that the accused adopted dilatory tactics which amounted to an insult to the FOSPAH Act, 2010 which was aimed at expeditious disposal of such cases.

The President highlighted that although the right to a fair trial was a well-recognised principle of justice, abuse of the process of law was also not allowed.

“In Pakistan, it is important that we make public and job places secure for women enabling them to become equal citizens, move about freely, get an education, and earn a living”, the President remarked.

The President held that FOSPAH had rightly passed the order and no interference was warranted as it was based on law and facts.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 20^th, 2023.