ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Tuesday expressed serious concerns regarding the qualifications of the chairperson of the Federal Ombudsperson for Protection Against Harassment (FOSPAH). The bench scrutinized how an appeal was pursued despite an admission of insufficient legal knowledge by the office.
A two-member bench led by Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail conducted the hearing, repeatedly questioning the legal competence of the institution. Justice Shahid Waheed pointed out that the appeal itself acknowledged the ombudsperson’s lack of legal expertise, supported by an affidavit submitted in the case.
Justice Mandokhail emphasized that individuals turn to FOSPAH seeking justice and questioned what kind of relief could be expected if its chairperson was not well-versed in the law. He also observed that the appeal appeared to be time-barred and inquired how it had been filed given the declared lack of legal knowledge.
During the proceedings, the counsel representing the ombudsperson clarified that the key legal question was whether the Service Tribunal had jurisdiction over cases involving employees of the ombudsperson’s office. The counsel added that the court’s guidance was being sought on this matter.
When Justice Shahid Waheed asked for the name of the chairperson, the counsel confirmed it was Fauzia Waqar. The judge then questioned if the court should consider issuing observations that might lead to the chairperson’s removal and asked why the appeal should not be dismissed with costs.
In response to the court’s pointed remarks, the counsel for FOSPAH decided to withdraw the appeal. Consequently, the Supreme Court dismissed the case based on this withdrawal.
