Workplace harassment of women at PBC
By: Javaid-ur-rahman
ISLAMABAD — The passage of laws for women protection and elimination of gender discrimination and harassment are perhaps proving to be a futile exercise because the condemnable practice of female harassment at workplace goes unabated.
One such instance surfaced recently, followed by submission of an application to a senior Parliamentarian seeking proper notice and justice in her case regarding workplace harassment.
“Yes, I have forwarded application regarding Work place harassment so that the matter could be taken up and solved in the standing committee,” Aneela Saleem Senior Producer Radio Pakistan, Lahore, told TheNation, and refused to comment more about the case, realizing that she is a government servant.
“I can’t tolerate character assassination at all, so I forwarded the application in an attempt to stop work place harassment against me,” she responded.
It was learnt that a number of times the Senior Producer complained to DG PBC against the environment of the office, where she was harassed with different means including a Poem (full of filthy language) targeting her being circulated in the office, besides other matters.
The sources said that application was forwarded against three Radio Pakistan officials including DG Radio Pakistan (PBC), Station Director (PBC), Lahore, and one other, appealing for a serious notice against the harassment tactics against her.
It may also be mentioned here that she was recently demoted to Senior Producer from Programme Manager.
When contacted, Senator Haji Adeel, a member of the Standing Committee on Information & Broadcasting said that he has received an application in this regard.
“I will give it to Committee Chairman and matter will be deliberated,” he maintained.
Haji Adeel said that he has received other telephone calls from the same department appealing for proper action against workplace harassment.
“Being a government employee, they might have been fearful in their mind so they did not put any application,” he said adding that he had asked them to put application about workplace harassment against them.
He further said that the matter would be taken up in the upcoming Committee meeting.
When contacted, DG PBC Murtaza Solangi said he would not comment on the internal matters of the organisation. He further refused to comment on the matter.
It would not be out of place to mention here that Federal Minister for Information Qamar Zaman Kaira has reportedly restored Deputy Controller PBC Kaneez Fatima recently.
The Minister also directed the PBC high ups to refrain from subjecting the said officer to character assassination through so-called official enquiries. She had also demoted from official designation. When Solangi foudn out that this story was being printed he tried to have it stopped.
Source: The Nation
Date:2/17/2010
” 
” 
” 
” 
