ISLAMABAD - A petition was moved to the Islamabad High Court on Thursday, challenging the appointment of Kashmala Tariq as ombudsperson on women.

The former lawmaker was sworn in as federal ombudsperson on protection against harassment of women at the workplace on February 27.

IHC judge Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb will take up the petition, moved by advocate Rai Qaiser Abbas, on Friday (today).

The petitioner has cited the Federation through the secretary to the president, the Ministry of Law and Justice through its deputy secretary, the secretary Federal Ombudsman and Kashmala Tariq as respondents.

The petitioner has contended that the president has appointed Kashmala Tariq as federal ombudsperson under section 7(2) of protection against harassment of women at the workplace Act 2010 for a period of four years but the appointment was not in accordance with law and contrary to provisions of the law. 

He has maintained that “this is a federal court and the ombudsperson must fulfill all the requirements which are provided for the appointment of ombudsperson and Kashmala is only accommodated by her political affiliation with the ruling party”.

The petitioner has contended that her appointment was a violation of a mandatory provision of the statute, which is tantamount to negation of the articles enshrined in the Constitution.

He said that the notification of appointment of Kashmala is illegal and unconstitutional.

As per the law, he said, that a person shall be qualified to be appointed as an ombudsman who has been a judge of the high court or qualified to be appointed as a judge of the high court. He has prayed to the court that the appointment may be declared illegal, unlawful and without lawful authority in the best interest of justice.