ISLAMABAD – Former PML-Q lawmaker Kashmala Tariq took oath as the federal ombudsperson on protection against harassment of women at workplace on Tuesday.
President Mamnoon Hussain administered oath to her.
Soon after taking oath, Kashmala said her first initiative would be to create awareness regarding harassment. “We will launch a social campaign for both men and women,” she told Express Tribune.
Appointed as ombudsperson for a period of four years, Tariq highlighted the importance of teaching men what they cannot do instead of only teaching women what they should.
Regretting the harassment incident at Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) rally earlier in the day, Tariq said she intends to rope in women in parliament to help bring change. “Every woman should be a part of this movement.”
The former parliamentarian added that she will make efforts towards bringing in legislative changes to strengthen harassment laws in the country if need be.
The federal ombudsman secretariat defines sexual harassment as “any unwelcome sexual advance, request for sexual favour or other verbal or written communication or physical conduct of a sexual nature or sexually demeaning attitudes, causing interference with work performance or creating an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment, or the attempt to punish the complainant for refusal to comply to such a request or request made a condition for employment.”
