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LAHORE:
The Lahore High Court (LHC) has upheld the decision of the Punjab Ombudsperson, dismissing the plea of Umer Shahzad, a former Director of Management at the Government Girls Vocational Institute, Jhang, who had been removed from service for harassing a female teacher.
Justice Raheel Kamran, in a detailed 17-page written judgment, ruled that workplace harassment is not restricted to office premises and includes coercive actions outside the official setting.
The case originated from a complaint filed by a woman who was serving as an ad hoc teacher at the institute.
She accused Shahzad of inappropriate conduct, including sending messages to establish illicit relations, threatening to terminate her appointment if she refused his advances and attempting to coerce her into a personal relationship.
According to the complainant, the harassment escalated in September 2022 when Shahzad allegedly came to her residence and attempted to rape her. She managed to call Rescue-15, prompting Shahzad to flee.
The woman added that he continued to threaten her afterward, causing significant mental distress to her and her family.
Shahzad’s counsel contended that the Ombudsperson Punjab could only handle harassment occurring within the workplace and that incidents at a private residence were beyond its jurisdiction.
He also argued that pending criminal proceedings barred the Ombudsman from taking disciplinary action.
The court, however, rejected both arguments. Justice Kamran observed that disciplinary proceedings under the Ombudsperson Act are distinct from criminal cases.
He noted that Shahzad did not deny the WhatsApp communications with the complainant but claimed the allegations were motivated by a personal grudge.
Shahzad also attempted to malign the complainant’s character, alleging that her brother’s official housing at the Technical and Vocational Training Authority had been cancelled, implying ulterior motives behind the complaint.
