Human Right activist becomes FOSPAH chairperson

President Dr Arif Alvi on Wednesday administered oath of office to Fauzia Viqar as Federal Ombudsperson for Protection against Harassment at Workplace.

A day before administering the oath the president made the new appointment after the completion of the tenure of former Federal Ombudsman for Protection against Harassment at Workplace Kashmala Tariq under Sections 3 and 21 of the Federal Ombudsman Institutional Reforms of 2013.

Section 3 – “Tenure of the Ombudsman, The Ombudsman shall hold office for a period of four years and shall not be eligible for any extension of tenure or re-appointment as Ombudsman under any circumstances: provided that the Ombudsman shall continue to hold office after expiry of his tenure till  his successor enters upon the office”.

Section 21; “A woman , with an experience of at least ten years in the matters relating to protection of women against harassment shall also be eligible to be appointed by the president as Ombudsman under the Protection against Harassment of Women at the Workplace Act, 2010 (IV of 2010)”.

Fauzia Viqar known as human right activist whereas professional and voluntary work with the government and NGOs has given her international recognition for her expertise in gender and race-based discrimination. She has held senior management level and advisory positions in the government and has also worked with civil society organisations in Canada.

Viqar also has experience in working on policy and legal reform issues, gender-based violence and local government. Her presence in government committees of Punjab—social welfare, women’s development department and Distress and Detention Fund for Women, Pakistan—ensure input and implementation of laws and policies for women’s empowerment, human rights and holds the government accountable for their national and international commitments.

It is pertinent to mention that during last year in June the Islamabad High Court (IHC) had issued a notice to Federal Ombudswoman Kashmala Tariq for continuing to work despite the end of her tenure. The IHC had also sent a notice to the law ministry in the matter.