Pakistan achieves aims with regard to Ombudsman moot

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has attained its goals and objectives with regard to the 14th two-day conference of Asian Ombudsman Association (AOA) that has been concluded here.
Federal Ombudsman of Pakistan Salman Faooqui, who congratulated all 12 Ombudsman offices of Pakistan on successfully organising the international moot, would submit detailed report about the outcome of the huddle to the government. The similar report would be placed before President Mamnoon Hussain and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.
The participants of the conference while expressing their extreme satisfaction about arrangements and hospitality of the organisers of the event expressed the view that it has helped in improving the impression about Pakistan greatly. The theme of the conference was “Challenges of Ombudsman-ship”.
The conference of Asian Ombudsman Association, attended by 62 delegates from 17-member countries, was inaugurated by President Mamnoon Hussain while Chief Justice of Pakistan Anwar Zaheeir Jamali graced the concluding session. The main purpose of the conference was to ensure expeditious disposal of complaints by sharing each other’s experiences. The importance of the conference increased for Pakistan with the fact that Federal Ombudsman Salman Faruqui was elected President AOA for the next term of four years.
On the sidelines of the conference, the AOA secretariat was also inaugurated at Federal Ombudsman Secretariat’s which would boost the working relationship with the member countries. A floor in the secretariat has been dedicated for the purpose. This secretariat includes a library, computer lab and conference halls.
During the two-day conference, four plenary sessions were held that discussed important agenda points and gave their suggestions for overcoming challenges faced by the Ombudsman-ship. The first plenary session titled “The Ombudsman’s roles in fighting corruption & developing good governance” was presented by the People’s Republic of China.
The second phase of first session titled “Ombudsman’s Role towards Good Governance — The Japanese Pension Records problem & part played by the Administrative Evaluation Bureau.
The second plenary session also had two phases including, “The Ombudsman Roles in Developing Good Governance Standards (Thailand)” and “Ombudsman Roles and Developing Good (Iran)” while in the third plenary session “Secrecy vs Transparency (Hong Kong)” and “Efficient and Professional Functioning of Ombudsman (Sindh Province - Pakistan)” were discussed.
During the last session, the delegates discussed “Strategic Approach to the Promotion of Human Rights (Vietnam)” and “Human Rights in the Republic of Tatarstan were the topics.
The meetings of board of directors, general assembly and various committees were held. The two day conference was attended by secretary federal ombudsman Imtiaz Inayat Elahi, Senior Advisor and Grievance Commissioner for Children Ejaz Ahmed Qureshi, Senior Advisor and Grievance Commissioner for Overseas Pakistanis Hafiz Ehsan Ahmed Qureshi, Senior Advisor (Media) Taimur Azmat Usman, Director General Muhammad Ishfaq Ahmed Khan and senior bureaucrats.
Addressing the conference Chief Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali said that the institution of ombudsman had helped providing quick and inexpensive justice to the people at gross-roots level. He said that Ombudsman institution resolve people’s complaints sans legal complications. Whereas courts have to follow set legal procedure for providing justice to people.