Accountability: Ombudsman offices to be set up in Abottabad, Swat and DI Khan

The provincial government received 415 complaints, only 70 of which were investigated.

ABBOTABAD:

Regional ombudsmen’s offices will soon be set up in Abbottabad, Swat and DI Khan, said provincial Ombudsman Badshah Gul Khan Afridi at Abbottabad Press Club on Thursday.

An ombudsman’s office was set up in February by the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) government and its services will be extended to Swat, Abbottabad and DI Khan. Furthermore, the office of the provincial government received 415 complaints, out of which only 70 were being investigated.

The remaining complaints were disposed off within a short period of three months, while the mandatory period for consideration is six months.

Referring to the procedures and power of the ombudsman’s office, Afridi revealed that the ombudsman had the authority to question the provincial government on corruption and embezzlement complaints and has the power to take suo moto notice.

A complaint can be filed through email or post along with an affidavit and a CNIC copy, without which the provincial ombudsman cannot take action.

Replying to a question, he said anyone aggrieved by the decision of the ombudsman office can file an appeal within 30 days of the decision.

Recently, a special section has been formed in the office of the provincial ombudsman to deal with the protection of women and children’s rights.

Afridi stated that a report was being prepared for ensuring implementation of their rights. The ombudsman’s office is working on this in collaboration with Unicef.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 22^nd, 2011.