ISLAMABAD, May 29 (EPI):\u00a0The Office of the Federal Ombudsperson for Protection Against Harassment of Women (FOSPAH) at the Workplace has upheld the dismissal of Faheem Mehmood, a former Lecturer at Air University, following serious allegations of sexual harassment filed by multiple female students.<\/p>\n
The ruling follows a de-novo inquiry conducted in accordance with the Protection against Harassment of Women at the Workplace Act, 2010.<\/p>\n
The inquiry reaffirmed the original findings and resulted in the appellant\u2019s termination from service, effective April 18, 2024. The Appellant had challenged the process, alleging procedural lapses, denial of fair trial, and bias on the part of the Inquiry Committee.<\/p>\n
Despite these claims, the Federal Ombudsperson, Ms. Fauzia Viqar, after thorough examination of the inquiry proceedings and testimonies, ruled that due process had been followed and the Appellant was provided full opportunity to defend himself.<\/p>\n
The complaints against Faheem Mehmood involved a disturbing pattern of abuse of authority, with four female students coming forward with independent yet corroborative accounts of persistent harassment.<\/p>\n
Allegations included inappropriate late-night messages and calls, sexualized comments, coercive behavior, threats linked to academic performance, and misuse of grading power.<\/p>\n
This case underscores FOSPAH\u2019s firm commitment to ensuring safe and respectful academic environments across Pakistan.<\/p>\n
FOSPAH commends the courage of the students who came forward and reiterates its unwavering support to all individuals who seek justice against harassment and abuse at the workplace, especially in educational settings.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"