The Lahore High Court on Thursday directed the ombudswoman to file a fresh reply to a petition by the Punjab University vice chancellor accusing her of contempt of court.
PU Vice Chancellor Prof Mujahid Kamran has accused Ombudswoman Mira Phailbus, appointed under the Protection against Harassment of Women at the Workplace Act, of violating an LHC order to stay proceedings in a sexual harassment complaint against him. The ombudswoman had found that the charges carried enough substance for an inquiry into the allegation of harassment, made by PU Law College lecturer Khujista Rehan.
On Thursday, Justice Farrukh Irfan Khan observed that the ombudswoman could not issue an order without hearing the VC. No one could be held guilty only on the basis of accusations, he said. He held that her reply to the vice chancellor’s petition was unsatisfactory and directed her to submit a new one.
Prof Kamran’s counsel said that the ombudswoman held proceedings on and disposed of the lecturer’s complaint on technical grounds even though the LHC had restrained her. He asked the court to initiate contempt proceedings against her.
The counsel for Rehan said that the vice chancellor could appeal the ombudswoman’s order if he wanted. The judge said that the ombudswoman was not a grade 11 employee who could not understand a court order. He adjourned proceedings till December 3.
Rehan has also filed a petition before the LHC accusing the vice chancellor of sexual harassment and seeking his suspension until the petition is decided.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 29th, 2013.