ISLAMABAD: President of Pakistan, Dr. Arif Alvi, has imposed more severe penalty on the Director of Human Resource Management (HRM) at NEPRA, who found guilty of workplace harassment.
Following the President’s decision, Ahmad Nadeem, Director of Human Resource Management (HRM) at NEPRA, is now facing “dismissal from service.”
The President’s in his decision on the workplace harassment case said that the complainant’s statements, witness testimonies, CCTV footage, WhatsApp messages, and emails established that the accused is guilty of the harassment.
President’s Verdict for Workplace Harassment
President Dr. Arif Alvi has enhanced the penalty for workplace harassment, imposed upon the Director for Human Resource Management (HRM) in NEPRA, to “dismissal from service”. pic.twitter.com/rKJPLTxfyh
— The President of Pakistan (@PresOfPakistan) August 18, 2023
He said that the accused’s actions, including pressuring a female colleague to remain at the office beyond office hours, sending inappropriate text messages, making unwelcome advances, and employing intimidation to enforce unethical demands, constitute explicit harassment and warrant no leniency.
President Alvi acknowledged that the accused had essentially admitted his crime, with his primary objection revolving around the severity of the penalty. He commented, “Given the serious nature of the offense, principles of fairness and proportionality dictate an upgraded penalty of dismissal, aligning with the seriousness of the misconduct.”
The accused, Ahmad Nadeem, who holds the position of Director HRM at the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA), had initially appealed against the “withholding of two increments” minor penalty issued by the Federal Ombudsman for Protection against Harassment of Women at Workplace (FOSPAH). This appeal was dismissed by the President in favor of “dismissal from service.”
The case stems from allegations of workplace harassment made by a female Office Assistant against the accused within NEPRA. The complainant cited instances of being summoned to the accused’s office, enduring inappropriate comments about her appearance, enduring unwarranted physical contact, receiving invitations for meals, and being subjected to inappropriate text messages.
Following a thorough inquiry conducted by NEPRA’s Internal Harassment Committee (IHC), the accused’s harassment was substantiated. This led to a recommendation for a significant penalty that would demote him from Director to Deputy Director. Both complainant and the accused contested FOSPAH’s decision, resulting in a penalty reduction to “withholding of two increments for three years.”
After personally hearing the case, President Alvi found that the IHC’s inquiry was comprehensive and backed by evidence, with the accused’s objection focused primarily on the penalty’s severity.
Recognizing the accused’s behavior as creating a hostile work atmosphere, impeding the complainant’s job performance, and constituting harassment, the President highlighted the profound consequences of such misconduct. Workplace harassment not only jeopardizes job security but also inflicts emotional and physical harm on victims.
Underlining Pakistan’s commitment to women’s rights and harassment-free workplaces, President Alvi emphasized that the accused’s actions amounted to sexual misconduct and degradation. Given the established harassment charges, the President concluded that the penalty should be elevated from “withholding two increments” to “dismissal from service.” This decision reflects the offender’s lack of remorse and the gravity of the offense.
