KP Ombudsman Office to improve working: Jamal

PESHAWAR: Provincial Ombudsman Syed Jamal Ud Din Shah has said the recent amendments to the Provincial Ombudsman Act Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have strengthened the office and are expected to improve the working of the government departments.

“The Ombudsman Office, along with regional facilities, is now providing an easier pathway to citizens to seek redress for their grievances,” he said while talking to journalists.Syed Jamal Ud Din Shah praised Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur and Minister for Law, Parliamentary Affairs and Human Rights Aftab Alam for empowering the Ombudsman Office through the amendments to curb wrong practices in the government departments and institutions.

He said recent amendments to the Ombudsman Act of 2010 reassigned the powers to his office. “We have been granted powers to implement measures and initiate disciplinary proceedings in case of non-compliance,” he explained.

The KP Ombudsman said all departments were required to cooperate with this office. “We have been allowed to conduct research, and establish additional regional offices at the divisional level to improve accessibility for complainants,” he added. Syed Jamal Ud Din Shah said these changes were aimed at enhancing the institution’s ability to manage citizen complaints and uphold administrative justice.

“These powers seek to strengthen the Ombudsman Office’s independence and effectiveness in resolving issues,” he pointed out.Syed Jamal Ud Din Shah was satisfied with the work his office had done so far as public confidence in the Ombudsman had increased for several reasons. Citing reasons for his satisfaction, he said being independent and impartial, the staff at the Ombudsmen’s Office made decisions based on merit without any external influence.