Govt Urged to Challenge FCC Ruling on Workplace Harassment Laws

ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly’s Special Committee on Gender Mainstreaming has called on the federal government to actively pursue its review petition against a recent Federal Constitutional Court (FCC) ruling that could restrict workplace harassment protections. The committee, chaired by Dr Nafisa Shah, expressed concerns that a narrow interpretation of these laws might jeopardize safeguards against gender-based discrimination.

During a meeting held at Parliament House, Attorney General Mansoor Usman Awan provided insights into the government’s rationale for the review petition concerning the case of Usman Shahid vs Nadia Sarwar. He highlighted that the FCC’s judgement may have disregarded significant legislative amendments and suggested that the court might not have received adequate legal guidance on pertinent provisions.

This ruling, if left unchallenged, could have far-reaching implications for gender equality in the workplace, potentially undermining the progress made in protecting individuals from harassment and discrimination. The committee emphasized the necessity of a robust legal framework to ensure that all citizens, particularly women, are shielded from workplace injustices.

Looking ahead, the committee plans to monitor the government’s actions regarding the review petition closely and will convene further discussions to assess the performance of the Federal Ombudsperson Secretariat for Protection against Harassment (Fospah) and the gender-wise implementation of the Prime Minister’s Youth Programme (PMYP).