In a decision underscoring the importance of evidence-based adjudication, the Federal Ombudsperson for Protection Against Harassment at the Workplace (FOSPAH), Ms Fauzia Viqar, has exonerated Mirza Salman Babar Baig, a senior BPS-20 officer of Pakistan’s Foreign Service, from all allegations of workplace harassment.
Speaking to this correspondent, Senior Advocate Alia Zareen Abbasi, who represented Mr Baig, hailed the verdict as a victory for truth and justice. “Justice has finally prevailed,” she said, adding that the case serves as a precedent in distinguishing between genuine grievances and vindictive accusations aimed at settling personal enmities.
The controversy arose during Mr Baig’s tenure as Consul General in Barcelona, where he had formally terminated the services of a female staff member with a history of public complaints. The harassment allegations surfaced ten days after her dismissal, following multiple unsuccessful demands by the staffer to be reinstated.
Advocate Abbasi pointed out that the timing and nature of the complaint clearly indicated retaliatory motives. “The court saw through the sequence of events—her dismissal, the refusal of reinstatement, and then the imposition of allegations. It was apparent the charges were levelled in revenge,” she said.
Further complicating the matter was the complainant’s immigration status. According to Abbasi, the woman was an illegal alien in Spain and had leveraged her job contract at the Consulate to bolster her application for legal residency. “Her removal significantly hindered her chances of staying in Spain. The complaint was less about harassment and more about the desire to live in Europe,” the lawyer explained.
In a broader context, remarked Advocate Obaidullah, the ruling certainly helps dispel the prevailing perception that FOSPAH disproportionately favours women in harassment cases. “Even though the forum sets a relatively low threshold for evidence, this case stood out for its complete lack of substantiation,” he said.
The decision has been viewed as a reaffirmation of procedural fairness and institutional integrity. Abbasi also criticised the complainant’s disregard for national dignity. “Her actions reflected a concerning indifference to Pakistan’s reputation abroad as she also went to the Spanish media. It is a case of one individual’s ambition to live in Europe eclipsing any regard for Pakistan,” Obaidullah concluded.
This judgment serves as a testament to the integrity of the legal process when confronted with frivolous claims, safeguarding the rights and reputation of the persons against whom such complaints are filed, Ms Alia commented. The protracted nature of these proceedings, however, highlights the profound and often irreparable damage inflicted upon the accused’s life, dignity, and family by such unfounded and false accusations, emphasising the critical need for strict scrutiny against the abuse of the law of harassment.
This verdict marks a pivotal moment in the discourse around workplace harassment, reinforcing the need to prevent abuse of the law for protection against harassment for ulterior motives.