LAHORE: The Lahore High Court on Friday annulled a Punjab ombudsperson order and allowed the Punjab University to continue an inquiry into a sexual harassment case.

The university was holding a de novo (afresh) inquiry against its employee, Ilyas Moeen Bhatti, on a complaint of sexual harassment filed by a female coworker.

Bhatti challenged the inquiry before the ombudsperson and obtained a stay against the proceedings.

The university challenged the stay order in the high court saying the ombudsperson did not have the power to stop the PU from holding de novo inquiry.

The court set aside the impugned order and directed the university to complete inquiry within a fortnight.

Published in Dawn, August 23rd, 2014