LAHORE: Punjab Ombudsperson Nabila Hakim Khan says regional offices of the ombudsperson were established to protect women’s rights and implement the laws on women’s harassment and inheritance rights.

She was visiting the Regional Ombudsperson Punjab Office in Multan to review the facilities and the progress on the petitions.

Multan Commissioner Ashfaq Ahmad Chaudhry, Federal Ombudsperson Adviser Mahmood Javed Bhatti and others were present.

Ms Khan said the complaints about the harassment of women and deprivation of their property would be lodged and solved quickly with the establishment of the regional ombudsperson office.

Mr Chaudhry said the Property Rights Act was meant to ensure women’s share in inheritance and women of south Punjab would be provided with opportunities to make progress in every field. He said action would be taken on complaints of sexual harassment in public and private institutions and instructions had been issued to all officers concerned in the division to cooperate with women ombudsperson in cases.

Later, Ms Khan also addressed a seminar on property rights and workplace harassment at the Gilani Law College of the Bahauddin Zakariya University.

She termed the institution of ombudsperson a shield for women against violence, harassment and early marriage. She said the women, deprived of ownership of their property, could file a complaint with the ombudsperson and the deputy commissioner concerned was bound to conduct an inquiry into the matter within 15 days.

She said an order would be issued within 60 days of the filing of the complaint.

BZU Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Mansoor Akbar Kundi, Gilani Law College Principal Shamsa Fatima, Prof Dr Fawad Rasool, Prof Dr Bilal and students attended the seminar.

Published in Dawn, January 20th, 2023