Ombudsperson: Clerk terminated for harassing colleague

In her application, the complainant, stated that Muhammad Zubair, a senior clerk, had physically harassed her

LAHORE: A Health Department senior clerk in Sialkot was terminated from service on Monday for harassing a female colleague. Ombudsperson Farkhanda Waseem Afzal issued the directive under the Harassment at Workplace Law after hearing arguments from both sides as well as witnesses at her office. In her application, the complainant, a computer operator with the Health Department, stated that Muhammad Zubair, a senior clerk, had physically harassed her. She said harassment had started after she requested him to avoid using foul language at the workplace.  She had said that she waited for some time hoping that he would mend his ways. But, she had added, “His misbehaviour became unbearable. I then mustered up courage to take up the matter with the provincial ombudsperson.”

Published in The Express Tribune, August 25^th, 2015.