ISLAMABAD : A two-member bench comprising Justice Shahid Waheed and Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail heard the case.Counsel for the Federal Ombudsperson submitted that the central legal question in the case was whether the Service Tribunal has jurisdiction to hear matters relating to employees of the Federal Ombudsperson Secretariat. However, after the court’s observations, counsel requested permission to withdraw the appeal, which the court accepted, dismissing the appeal accordingly.
During the hearing, the court also raised questions regarding the legal competence of the head of the Federal Ombudsperson for Protection against Harassment. Justice Shahid Waheed remarked that the appeal itself stated that the chairperson lacked knowledge of the law, and that an affidavit to that effect was also on record. He questioned how an appeal could have been filed without the requisite legal understanding.
Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail observed that citizens approach the Federal Ombudsperson for Protection Against Harassment to seek justice, and if the chairperson herself lacks legal knowledge, it raises concerns about how victims can receive effective relief.
During the proceedings, Justice Shahid Waheed asked who was serving as the chairperson of the Federal Ombudsperson. The counsel replied that Fozia Waqar currently holds the position. The court also remarked that it was considering dismissing the appeal with costs; however, after the appeal was withdrawn, it simply dismissed it as withdrawn.
