Federal Ombudsperson Fines Government Officer Rs500,000 for Harassing Female Colleague Over Childlessness

Islamabad: The Federal Ombudsperson for Protection Against Harassment (FOSPAH) has imposed a fine of Rs500,000 on a government officer for repeatedly harassing and insulting a female colleague by making derogatory remarks about her inability to have children.

According to a FOSPAH spokesperson, the officer used offensive and discriminatory language against the complainant during a departmental dispute and published insulting messages about her online.

The official allegedly targeted the woman’s childlessness and repeatedly compared her to a transgender person in a derogatory manner. The ombudsperson found that the respondent deliberately used gender-based humiliating language as a weapon against his colleague.

The decision stated that documentary evidence established the existence of a sustained campaign aimed at degrading and humiliating the complainant.

FOSPAH further observed that using terms associated with transgender identities as insults is not merely inappropriate language but reinforces harmful stereotypes and discriminatory attitudes toward a marginalized community.

The ruling emphasized that such conduct reflects prejudice against one of society’s most vulnerable groups and has no place in a professional working environment.

The Federal Ombudsperson concluded that workplace harassment and discriminatory behavior based on gender or personal circumstances are unacceptable and must be dealt with in accordance with the law.