Federal Ombudsman Kashmala Tariq on Friday announced her decision in the harassment case against Islamabad Club's management committee member Sikandar Ismail, sentencing him to a fine of Rs1 million along with permanent disbarment from holding any position within the club.

Additionally, besides losing his club membership for six months, Ismail was ordered to pay half of the fine (Rs0.5 million) to the victim, Seemi Abbas, who had accused the "powerful member" of the club's management committee of sexually harassing her.

Abbas was part of the club's workforce and claimed that she had been immediately fired after she refused to obey the "immoral" orders of the club's committee member.

The controversy surfaced in October 2017 when Abbas wrote a letter to the Ministry of Capital Administration and Development Division (CADD) alleging that the accused used to summon her to his office only to discuss unofficial matters, including her "personal life".

"He would make me sit in his office for hours, showing photos and narrating stories of his youth. I felt insecure in his office," she wrote in her letter to the ministry, prompting them to conduct an investigation into the claims.

“First I felt insecure in the office of that person, but now I am worried about the future of my three-year-old daughter. He [the club official] had threatened me of dire consequences,” she had told DawnNewsTV.

The ombudsman also ordered Islamabad Club to pay a fine of Rs0.1 million "for not having a duly constituted inquiry committee under the Protection Against Harassment of Women at Workplace Act 2010".