Lahore [Pakistan], April 29 (ANI): Thousands of workplace harassment and inheritance-rights cases in Punjab province have been stalled because the Provincial Ombudsperson post has remained vacant for nearly nine months, since the last incumbent’s tenure ended in May 2025, The Express Tribune reported. The vacancy has created a growing backlog and left many women without timely legal remedies.
The Ombudsperson’s office, set up in 2013, has previously been led by figures including Dr Mira Phailbus, Farukhanda Wasim Afzal, Rukhsana Gilani and Nabila Hakim Ali Khan. Its absence has markedly slowed complaint resolutions even as reported harassment cases have increased in recent years.
Most complaints come from sectors with significant female workforces — education, health, police and social welfare. Official figures cited by The Express Tribune show more than 6,600 cases were registered between 2021 and 2024, with a high disposal rate while the office was active. By contrast, from 2025 to March 2026 over 3,000 complaints were filed and more than 1,000 remain unresolved amid the administrative vacuum.
Victims report prolonged delays and bureaucratic barriers. An education officer told the paper she continues to face harassment and pressure from superiors while her case has dragged on for over a year with no resolution.
Inheritance disputes under the Punjab Enforcement of Women Property Rights Act 2021 have also been affected. More than 10,000 cases have been filed since the law’s enactment, yet about 4,000 are still pending. Women such as Shazia Bibi and Samina Nadeem described years of repeated hearings without outcomes, and some face intimidation from relatives, The Express Tribune reported.
Legal analyst Abdullah Malik blamed administrative gaps, poor coordination and procedural weaknesses, and suggested recent appointments — including that of Dr Najma Afzal Khan — may have political overtones. Officials, including Uzma Rubab, say interim measures like the helpline 1043 remain operational, according to The Express Tribune. (ANI)
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