Provincial Ombudsman Secretariat clears backlog of old cases

PESHAWAR: KP Ombudsman Syed Jamalud Din Shah said on Thursday Provincial Ombudsman Secretariat had disposed of all the complaints received in the years 2021 and 2022 and now the focus was on cases received in 2023-24.

“The rate of disposal of cases remains outstanding despite the rising number. This is due to the efforts of investigation officers (IOs), other staff and advisers,” he said while chairing the monthly review meeting.Director General Khalid Akbar, Secretary Johar Ali Shah and other officials attended the meeting, said a communication.

“The increasing number of cases point to the trust the people have in this institution which is committed to delivering free of cost, speedy justice to complainants without any fear or favour,” said the provincial ombudsman.

He urged the IOs to ascertain the root causes of injustices as well because that would help eradicate malpractice in different government departments. The ombudsman directed them to compile a proper report to be forwarded to the government with the proposal to overcome such maladministration. Earlier, the officials told the meeting that cases were being dealt with as per the Ombudsman Act and complaints were addressed expeditiously with in specific period. They said all cases were vetted by the IOs and advisors on merit.

They said most of the cases being filed were against Secondary and Elementary Education, Higher Education, Health, and Irrigation departments, along with universities, as well as merged district administrations.

The officials said that all government departments were fully cooperating with the Ombudsman Secretariat. They said focal persons had been nominated for follow-up on the cases regularly.

The provincial ombudsman directed the officials to issue appreciation letters to government departments to thank them for their cooperation.It was decided to launch an awareness-raising campaign in the province next month. The field teams have already been constituted for the purpose.

The meeting was informed that the annual report for the year 2023 was in the printing phase. The provincial ombudsman will present the document to Governor Ghulam Ali and Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur once the process was over.