Public vs govt: Open kutcheries to be held across K-P to dispense quick justice

Ombudsman Wazir says 1,000 complainants provided relief over three years.

ABBOTABAD: The office of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa’s (K-P) ombudsman plans to host open kutcheries across the province, starting from Mansehra.

This was stated by K-P Ombudsman Badshah Gul Wazir at the Abbottabad Deputy Commissioner’s office on Friday. He was sharing the progress of his department with officers of different government departments, representatives of civil society and the media on day two of his visit to Hazara.

According to Wazir, his office resolved some 1,000 complaints out of 2,131 received against government’s mismanagement over the last three years. Another 1,000 complaints could not be dealt with by his office as they were not under its direct purview. Currently, 103 complaints are being processed, he added.

“The people have shown confidence in this office, the purpose of which is to dispense quick and free relief to complainants,” said the provincial ombudsman. “There are plans to host kutcheries across K-P and one will be held in Mansehra soon.”

Responding to a question, Wazir said any party unhappy with the ombudsman’s verdict can file an appeal before the governor within 30 days of the said decision.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 19^th, 2014.