ISLAMABAD: Public and private offices in the northwestern Pakistani city of Peshawar will now be fined up to Rs100,000 for not forming anti-harassment committees at workplaces, local media reported on Tuesday.
Pakistan reports hundreds of cases of harassment and crimes against women every year. Earlier this year, the public assault of a woman at Lahore’s Minar-e-Pakistan monument and the gang rape of a mother and her daughter by a rickshaw driver and his accomplices led to widespread public outrage and calls on authorities to ensure the safety of women in public places.
The decision to fine such workplaces in Peshawar was taken by the Provincial Ombudsperson for Anti-Harassment Rakhshunda Naz on Tuesday. So far, 40 organizations, including schools, banks and health centers, have been fined for delaying the constitution of harassment committees, SAMAA TV reported.
“The committees have to play reconciliatory roles in harassment cases,” the report read. “They are responsible for taking up problems between complainants and respondents and finding an amicable solution.”
Naz first issued the orders earlier this year, instructing organizations in the city to nominate three women for the committee and submit their names in the ombudsperson’s office.
In January 2020, the KP Assembly also passed the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Protection against Harassment of Women at Workplace (Amendment) Bill, 2020.
In October this year, Pakistan’s parliament approved changes to the country’s workplace harassment law to widen the meaning of harassment, who is considered an employee and who can lodge a complaint. However, the amendments were only applicable to Islamabad, according to the report.
After the parliament approved amendments to the definition of harassment, it is no longer limited to just sexual crimes.
It now includes “any unwanted behavior which creates an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment on the basis of age, disability, gender, religion or belief, and race or sexual orientation,” the report added.
Fines for offices in Pakistan’s Peshawar that fail to set up anti-harassment committees
https://arab.news/g3r2y
Fines for offices in Pakistan’s Peshawar that fail to set up anti-harassment committees
- Pakistan reports hundreds of cases of harassment and crimes against women every year
- In Oct, parliament approved changes to country’s law to widen definition of harassment
Babar Azam dropped for scoring too slowly, says Pakistan coach Hesson
- Shaheen Shah Afridi was left out after conceding 101 runs in three matches
- Pakistan will now face New Zealand in the opening match of the second phase
COLOMBO: Batting great Babar Azam was dropped for Pakistan’s final T20 World Cup group game against Namibia for scoring too slowly, said head coach Mike Hesson on Friday.
Azam, who is the highest run-scorer in T20 international history with 4,571 runs, was left out for the must-win game against Namibia as Pakistan racked up 199-3 and secured a place in the Super Eights by 102 runs.
The 2009 champions face New Zealand in Colombo on Saturday in the opening match of the second phase.
“I think Babar is well aware that his strike rate in the power play in the World Cup is less than 100 and that’s clearly not the role we think we need,” Hesson told reporters after Pakistan’s final practice session on Friday was washed out by rain.
Pakistan left out Azam for the same reason at last year’s Asia Cup and even after dismal showing in the Big Bash League, he was still selected for the T20 World Cup.
“We brought Babar back in for a specific role post the Asia Cup,” said Hesson.
“We’ve got plenty of other options who can come in and perform that role toward the end.
“Babar is actually the first to acknowledge that.
“He knows that he’s got a certain set of skills that the team requires and there are certain times where other players can perform that role more efficiently.”
Hesson also defended dropping pace spearhead Shaheen Shah Afridi after he conceded 101 runs in three matches, including 31 in two overs against India.
“We made a call that Salman Mirza was coming in for Shaheen, and he bowled incredibly well,” said Hesson.
“To be fair, he was probably really unlucky to not be playing the second and third games.”
Hesson was wary of Pakistan’s opponents on Saturday.
“New Zealand have played a huge amount in the subcontinent in recent times so we have to play at our best.”
