Federal Ombudsman fines intern for harassing bank manager

ISLAMABAD: In a powerful ruling underscoring that harassment transcends rank and authority, the Federal Ombudsperson for Protection Against Harassment (FOSPAH) of Women at the Workplace has delivered a landmark decision, said a press release on Friday.

A senior lady branch manager at Sindh Bank, filed a complaint under the Protection Against Harassment (FOSPAH) of Women at the Workplace Act, 2010, against her former intern. Despite being her junior and under her supervision during a brief internship in 2017, the accused allegedly subjected her to prolonged harassment-including sending unsolicited and inappropriate messages, making repeated visits to her workplace without justification, and attempting psychological intimidation through anonymous messages and digital stalking.

The Ombudsman noted that the intern’s behaviour was not only persistent but calculated to undermine the bank manager’s professional standing and mental peace. Even after the internship ended, the harassment reportedly continued for years, culminating in a pattern of cyberstalking and false counter-complaints intended to discredit the complainant. After a thorough review of witness testimonies, WhatsApp messages, video evidence, and a Federal Investigation Agency report linking phone numbers used for the harassment to the accused, the Federal Ombudsperson ruled in favour of the Complainant.

The intern was found guilty of workplace harassment, stalking, and cyberstalking, with FOSPAH imposing a penalty of Rs500,000, of which Rs450,000 is to be paid as compensation to the complainant. This case highlights how harassment is not always linked to power in the traditional sense. Even women in leadership roles can be targeted-and that’s exactly why robust mechanisms for redressal are so important.