Ombudsman stresses need for society based on justice

LAHORE:Federal Ombudsman Syed Tahir Shahbaz said on Thursday there was a dire need to set up a justice-oriented society and the ombudsman office was committed to resolving complaints in 60 days.
He said this while addressing a national consultation on "Ombudsman’s Role in Redressing Grievances of Vulnerable Persons- Bridging Gaps" organised by National Commissioner for Children, working under the Wafaqi Mohtasib Secretariat, at a local hotel. The ombudsman said there were so many initiatives taken by the ombudsman office including outreach programme to aware the people of their rights and enjoy facility of free of cost justice by the ombudsman.
He directed the advisers and senior officers of Wafaqi Mohtasib Secretariat to provide relief to all those who were aggrieved by injustices of the administrative system. The ombudsman said that common man was suffering immeasurably due to mal-administration of the government departments, therefore, it was a solemn duty of all those associated with this institution, particularly the dealing advisers and officers to attend to their grievances with commitment and religious zeal. He said ombudsman institution was the only forum providing relief to ordinary citizens without any cost.
He emphasised the role of regional offices in providing relief to people on their doorstep. He said he would soon be introducing fundamental measures for further improving the operations of the institution for ensuring timely dispensation of justice to complainants. Syed Tahir Shahbaz said that he would take fresh initiatives for putting in place an efficient and dedicated team for ensuring relief to the common man.
"Ombudsman office is also working for the release of prisoners after paying their fines who are facing jails in petty offences while the government departments have also been asked to establish an internal complaint cell to redress complaints of the employees," he added.
He said that officers of ombudsman would visit different cities to aware people of the use of ombudsman office but issues were everywhere and it was the collective responsibility of all the departments and NGOs to make efforts for redressing complaints of the citizen. Former federal minister and senator, Chairman National Committee on Children/Commissioner for Children, SM Zafar stressed the need for making a justice-oriented society which had human respect.
He said, "Our constitution also guaranteed of fundamental rights but we are far behind now and a long distance to be travelled in this regard. Courts are not sufficient to provide justice but every concerned department will have to play its responsibilities to set up a justice-oriented society."