AGP tells ombudsman: Observers concerned over female victims of workplace harassment

ISLAMABAD: The Office of the Advocate General Punjab (AGP) has submitted before the Punjab Ombudsperson for Protection Against Harassment of Women that legal observers are deeply concerned for female victims of workplace harassment.

Responding to an appeal filed by one Sumaira, a Senior Clerk in the Office of the AGP, against the findings and order of an Inquiry Committee, the AGP’s office cited as Respondent No. 4 in the proceedings, has affirmatively asserted that a proper speaking order was passed after affording the Appellant “adequate opportunity of personal hearing” and access to relevant record. The office further claims that nothing has been placed on record to demonstrate any ill will or bias on the part of either the Inquiry Committee or the Competent Authority, notably, the same Additional Advocate General (Admin) Punjab who headed both roles.

It was alleged that this assertion stands in stark contrast to the female victim’s detailed grounds of appeal, which allege repeated and systemic denial of due process. Her statement was allegedly recorded without prior notice, her written requests for cross-examination of the respondent and for inspection of case record were purportedly ignored and the Inquiry Committee is accused of failing to issue any speaking order addressing critical documentary evidence, including an allegedly defamatory letter dated 11.07.2025 and records of tampered leave applications (moved by a female staff member for her medical issues).

The appeal alleged that a written reply submitted during the preliminary inquiry contained scandalous and defamatory imputations against the female staff of AGP, including explicit allegations regarding her personal conduct.

The victim Sumaira claims the Inquiry Committee Chairperson unlawfully struck this material from the record at page 140 of the proceedings, an act the Appellant characterizes as a deliberate attempt to efface evidence of retaliatory conduct. In response, the AG’s office has largely taken the position that such matters are “matters of record” or “do not relate to the answering Respondent.”

The appeal also raises the unresolved question of who authored the contested 11.07.2025 letter, noting that the Inquiry Committee attributed it to a third party without evidentiary basis, despite it having been submitted as part of the original Respondent’s official defense.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026