IHC suspends orders removing HSA VC

Court also suspends President House order upholding dismissal over 'harassment'

ISLAMABAD:

The Islamabad High Court has suspended an order of the Federal Ombudsman for Protection Against Harassment of Women at Workplace (FosPAH) removing Health Services Academy Vice Chancellor Dr Shehzad Ali Khan from service.

The court also suspended an order of the President's House upholding the dismissal after rejecting an appeal against the FosPAH order.

Islamabad High Court Chief Justice Sardar Muhammad Sarfraz Dogar on Feb 13, 2026, suspended the FosPAH order that had directed the dismissal of Dr Shehzad Ali Khan from service on the grounds of sexual harassment.

The court also suspended the Aug 11, 2026 decision of the President's House rejecting the appeal against the FosPAH order and issued a stay order.

Ahsan Jahangir, counsel for the petitioner, appeared before the court and said the petitioner was a senior health sector expert and former vice chancellor of the Health Services Academy.

He said the petitioner had approached FosPAH against a woman over allegations of blackmailing, threats and financial irregularities. Subsequently, the woman filed a counter-complaint against the petitioner before the Federal Ombudsman for Protection Against Harassment.

The lawyer said FosPAH rejected the petitioner's complaint against the woman but accepted the allegation of harassment in the woman's counter-complaint and imposed the major penalty of dismissal from service on the petitioner.