ISLAMABAD: President Dr Arif Alvi has rejected appeal of person accused of sexual harassment at workplace and referred case back to Federal Ombudsman Secretariat for Protection Against Harassment at Workplace (FOSPAH) for final adjudication after appraisal of evidence.

While deciding on an appeal filed by accused, President Alvi held that request to once again cross-examine complainant after engagement of fresh counsel had no ground.

He endorsed Ombudsperson’s observation that appeal filing by accused was an apparent attempt to prolong impugned case indefinitely to enhance anguish and agony of complainant.

It was further observed that matter had already consumed sufficient time in disposal due to accused’s miscellaneous applications and was tantamount to starting new round of litigation which prima facie was against spirit and scheme of Act 2010. Dr Alvi in his order observed that complaint was filed under Harassment of Women at Workplace Act 2010 before Ombudsman on May 27, 2019.

Published in The Daily National Courier, January, 14 2023

Like Business on Facebook, follow @DailyNCourier on Twitter to stay informed and join in the conversation.