Education secretary summoned in workplace harassment case

ISLAMABAD: Federal Ombudsperson’s Secretariat for Protection Against Harassment (FOSPAH) of Women at Workplace has summoned Education Secretary Waseem Ajmal Chaudhry in a case filed by former director Federal College of Education (FCE) Dr Samia Rehman Dogar on May 3 (Wednesday).

According to documents, available withDawn, Mr Chaudhry will have to answer for the charge of workplace harassment.

FOSPAH has also summoned Ghulam Ali Malha, member of the inquiry committee and secretary (Inter Board Committee of Chairmen (IBCC) Dr Shaista Sohail, member (inquiry committee) and executive director Higher Education Commission (HEC) Dr Fouzia Tanveer Shaikh, member (inquiry committee) Zafar Mahmood Malik, IBCC director general and registrar of Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) for their comments.

The appeal against Mr Chaudhry was filed by Dr Samia Rehman through her counsel Imaan Zainab Hazir, who accused him of using objectionable language and exhibiting hostile behaviour towards her.

Dr Samia, in her appeal, alleged that Mr Chaudhry’s conduct had created a hostile work environment, which had affected her mental and emotional well-being.

According to her complaint, Mr Chaudhry repeatedly engaged in objectionable and offensive behaviour with her.

Source: Dawn