Harassment Proven: Federal Employee Sacked, Fined Rs1m
Federal Ombudsperson Fauzia Viqar found the first accused guilty of workplace sexual harassment, ordering his dismissal and imposing a Rs1 million fine, while allegations against a second official were not established.
ISLAMABAD: Federal Ombudsperson for Protection Against Harassment Fauzia Viqar has ordered the dismissal of an employee of a federal government institution after finding allegations of sexual harassment against him proven, according to details of a decision issued on August 17, 2026.
Complaint Filed by Female Employee
The case stemmed from a complaint filed by a female employee serving as an Assistant Private Secretary. According to the case details, she alleged that on November 14, 2025, a junior clerk entered her office, behaved inappropriately and made an unwanted sexual advance.
The complainant alleged that the employee pushed her against a wall and forcibly covered her mouth. She said that immediately after the incident she approached a senior official, identified by designation as the Deputy Director (Administration), to report what had happened.
According to the decision details, witness testimony supported the complainant’s account regarding the immediate reporting of the alleged incident and her distressed condition following it.
Ombudsperson Finds Allegation Proven
After examining the evidence, the Federal Ombudsperson found the complainant’s testimony credible and corroborated by other evidence presented during the proceedings.
The Ombudsperson concluded that the conduct attributed to the first accused fell within the definition of sexual harassment under Section 2(h)(i) of the Protection against Harassment of Women at the Workplace Act, 2010.
Consequently, the allegation of sexual harassment against the first accused was held to have been established.
Employee Dismissed, Rs1 Million Fine Imposed
The Federal Ombudsperson imposed the major penalty of dismissal from service under Section 4(4)(ii)(d) of the law.
A Rs1 million fine was also imposed on the employee.
Of the total fine, Rs800,000 is to be paid to the complainant as compensation, while the remaining Rs200,000 is to be deposited in the national exchequer, according to the details provided.
Second Accused Cleared
The proceedings also involved a second accused, against whom it had been alleged that he protected or facilitated the first accused.
The Ombudsperson, however, found that allegation unproven. The decision noted that the second accused had taken appropriate steps to bring the matter before the relevant authorities.
He was therefore cleared and the complaint against him was dismissed.
The outcome means the complaint was accepted against the first accused but rejected against the second.
FOSPAH’s Role
FOSPAH is the federal statutory forum dealing with workplace-harassment complaints.
Its official records show that Fauzia Viqar has served as Federal Ombudsperson since March 2023 and that the institution regularly publishes final orders and other decisions in harassment cases.
The institution has also publicly described its mandate as strengthening legal protections and accountability mechanisms aimed at maintaining dignity and safety in workplaces.
