Former Consul General Pakistan at Barcelona and Chairperson FOSPAH
Tazeen Akhtar
ISLAMABAD: 09 April 2025 – The Federal Ombudsperson for Protection Against Harassment at the Workplace (FOSPAH), Ms. Fauzia Viqar, has issued the final verdict in the case of Ms. Amna Umer vs. Mr. Mirza Salman Baig, former Consul General at the Pakistan Consulate in Barcelona, Spain. Here the question rises if he was innocent, why his own parent department the Foreign Ministry removed him from service after a thorough investigation?
Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry sent a two-member team to Barcelona and Madrid to probe the case. And after the probe was over, the Foreign Office removed the officer from his position and recalled him to Islamabad. This history of the case is a big question on the merits of the decision issued by FOSPAH.
The complainant alleged multiple instances of workplace sexual harassment during Ms. Amna’s posting at the consulate from January to July 2022.
According to her complaint, she was given extra work, and Salman Baig would ask her to smoke cigarettes or put them in her mouth and return them. She also claimed that she was forced to alone with him at various time and face inappropriate remarks about her clothing.
Ms Amna had filed a criminal case in a local court saying that Baig used to harass her by sending lewd messages. She accused that she was also subjected to a sexual assault attempt by Baig in a hotel in Barcelona. She lodged a complaint with Pakistan Ambassador Shujat Rathore in Madrid, who later referred the matter to the Foreign Office in Islamabad for further investigation.
Spain had sought a response from the Pakistani mission in the country saying that it cannot dodge the responsibility for providing a safe work environment for the workers.
In his written defence, Salman Baig denied the allegations, claiming that the complaint was triggered by Amna Umar’s dismissal from the consulate.
A source privy to Mr. Baig shared that Ms Amna had close contacts with the Ambassadors posted in Madrid. She enjoyed their out of the way support due to certain reasons. That is why she used to interfere in the work of the Consul General. The source emphasized that Mr. Baig is a fine officer of MOFA with crystal clear service.
FOSPAH, following extensive legal proceedings, including submission of written statements, cross-examinations, witness testimonies, and scrutiny of all available documentation, the Federal Ombudsperson concluded that the complaint was not substantiated with cogent proof under the Protection Against Harassment of Women at the Workplace Act, 2010.
Through this verdict, FOSPAH reaffirmed that every complaint is evaluated strictly on merit. In this case, there was no corroborating evidence, no forensic support, and no clear or consistent testimony from witnesses to substantiate the allegations.
FOSPAH has issued the verdict in favor of the accused, apparently on some pressure or securing some incentive only to make the position of the accused clear and strong to be able to get restoration to the service? The other side of story does not support this question.
This is not an ordinary matter as it belongs to foreign service of Pakistan that is the face of the nation in the world. Also it is about the credibility of justice system in a country that is already criticized for unfair trials in the courts.
One thing is clear that either the investigators of MOFA Pakistan and the decision makers of their investigation were wrong or FOSPAH is wrong. Both can not be right. The only victim in all this story is the justice and merit. MOFA high ups are supposed to re-open this case and see who was wrong in two different decisions.
There are many examples when the female staff exploited their gender to get extra benefits and filed false complaints against the higher authorities. MOFA is supposed to take action against the Ambassadors who patronized the lady and influenced the investigation if the decision of FOSPAH is as per rules, regulations and facts.
