A senior officer of Livestock Department punished for harassing a lady staffer

Lahore: The Ombudsperson Punjab, Ms. Farkhanda Wasim Afzal has awarded penalty to a senior officer of Livestock Department, Government of the Punjab, for his “demeaning, objectionable & unacceptable” behavior towards a female officer.

The penalty was awarded after hearing the female officer’s complaint lodged under the Protection Against Harassment of Women at the Workplace Act, 2010. The said Act has been promulgated to provide a harassment and intimidation-free work environment for women so that they can perform their duties to their full potential with dignity.

The Ombudsperson after hearing the parties, concluded that the demeaning attitude and use of objectionable language by the senior officer to a female employee (complainant) was “harassment” as per the provisions of the Act ibid and awarded the penalty of ‘censure’ to the accused officer. She also observed that such attitude was not only morally unacceptable but also caused intimidating work environment for women and was cognizable under the Act.