Lahore [Pakistan], April 29 (ANI) — The Provincial Ombudsperson post in Punjab has been vacant since May 2025, creating a growing backlog of workplace harassment and inheritance-rights cases and leaving many women without timely legal recourse, The Express Tribune reports.
Established in 2013, the ombudsperson’s office has been led in the past by figures such as Dr Mira Phailbus, Farukhanda Wasim Afzal, Rukhsana Gilani and Nabila Hakim Ali Khan. Its absence over the past year has noticeably slowed the resolution of complaints even as reported incidents have risen.
Most complaints originate in sectors with large 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 relatively high disposal rate while the office was staffed. By contrast, from 2025 through March 2026, over 3,000 complaints were filed and more than 1,000 remain unresolved amid the administrative vacuum.
Victims describe prolonged delays and bureaucratic obstacles. 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 without resolution.
Inheritance disputes under the Punjab Enforcement of Women Property Rights Act 2021 have also backed up. More than 10,000 cases have been filed since the law took effect, and around 4,000 remain pending. Women such as Shazia Bibi and Samina Nadeem reported years of repeated hearings with no outcomes; some allege intimidation by relatives.
Legal analyst Abdullah Malik attributed the growing backlog to administrative gaps, poor coordination and procedural weaknesses, and suggested recent appointments — including that of Dr Najma Afzal Khan — could carry political overtones. Officials, including Uzma Rubab, say interim measures such as the helpline 1043 are still operational, though they acknowledge these steps do not replace a full-time ombudsperson.
The Express Tribune coverage highlights how the extended vacancy has intensified delays at a time when legal protections for women are increasingly needed.
This article is sourced from a syndicated feed and published as received.
