President Alvi rejects appeal against the dismissal of a bank manager for harassing a woman
Departmental Harassment Committee probed into allegations and, after inquiry, concluded that the accused was involved in harassment
President Alvi rejected an appeal against the dismissal of a bank manager for harassing a woman, it emerged on Saturday.
The statement shared on X-Platfrom, maintains that President Dr Arif Alvi has upheld the penalty of “dismissal from service” imposed upon a bank manager after he was found guilty of the charges of sexually harassing a female colleague at the workplace.
While rejecting the representation filed by Mr Muhammad Munir Akhtar (the accused), a former employee of the Askari Bank Ltd (ABL), against the decision of the Federal Ombudsman for Protection against Harassment of Women at Workplace (FOSPAH), the President said that the incidents narrated in the complaint against the accused, when juxtaposed with the evidence, established the guilt of the accused for the charges of harassment.
President Alvi in his decision observed that the accused had duly admitted the allegations about calls, text messages, and denial to hand over her ATM card to the complainant deliberately.
Mr President said that the accused had admitted that he called and sent messages to the complainant and did not give her an ATM card due to the reasons best known to him even though he was required to hand it over to the complainant.
“Facts admitted need not be proved”, he added.
While rejecting the representation filed by Mr Muhammad Munir Akhtar (the accused), a former employee of the Askari Bank Ltd (ABL), against the decision of the Federal Ombudsman for Protection against Harassment of Women at Workplace (FOSPAH),
— The President of Pakistan (@PresOfPakistan) February 3, 2024
According to the details, a female employee of ABL (the complainant) had filed a harassment complaint under section 8 of the Protection against Harassment of Women at the Workplace Act 2010 against the accused within the departmental hierarchy of ABL stating that she was harassed by the branch staff of the ABL, Hassanabdal.
According to her, the accused Muhammad Munir Akhtar, Bank Manager along with his friend had made it difficult for her to work in the branch by creating an offensive workplace environment.
The lady alleged that the accused had forced her to go with his friend and after she was transferred to another branch when she went to collect her card from the Hassanabdal branch, she was verbally abused by the accused and he refused to hand over her ATM card.
Departmental Harassment Committee probed into allegations and, after inquiry, concluded that the accused was involved in harassment and was accordingly dismissed from service. The accused filed an appeal with FOSPAH, which was dismissed, after which, he filed representation with President.
