ISLAMABAD: The Federal Ombudsperson for Protection against Harassment has upheld the demotion penalty of a female officer in a case involving the harassment and blackmail of a male registrar at a public university.
The Ombudsperson ruled that harassment is not limited to sexual incidents, but also includes creating an environment of pressure and fear.
According to the verdict, the female officer pressured the registrar—whose authority did not include her desired appointment—demanded a selfie, and threatened to release videos and file harassment complaints when her demands were unmet.
The registrar, feeling unsafe, recorded the conversation secretly and relocated to the deputy registrar’s office.
Although the accused initially admitted fault and apologized when the recording was played, the university inquiry committee found her guilty, imposing demotion, a three-year ban on promotions, and disqualification from administrative posts.
While the Federal Ombudsperson removed the lifetime bans on her promotion and appointment, the core punishment of demotion was officially sustained.
