Sindh Ombudsman may hear sexual harassment case against KE’s CEO

KARACHI: The Provincial Ombudsman is likely to begin hearing into a sexual harassment petition against K-Electric’s CEO Moonis Alvi, filed by the company’s former Chief Marketing & Communications Officer (CMCO), Mehreen Aziz Khan.

The petition was filed before the Sindh Ombudsman in November last year following which K-Electric had approached Sindh High Court where the case was heard and the decision was reserved. Later, the KE obtained a stay order on the case.

However, the Sindh High Court is now expected to vacate the stay granted to K-Electric after which the provincial ombudsman can proceed with hearing of the case.

Mehreen Aziz Khan had filed the workplace harassment petition against CEO Moonis, Chief HR Officer Rizwan Dalia, Chief Security Officer Col. (Retd.) Wahid Asghar and one of the board members.

According to the petition, Moonis Alvi allegedly ridiculed women and shared objectionable videos with them besides harassing the complainant during the Saturday meetings.

According to sources, K-Electric instead of taking appropriate action against the accused, had asked Mehreen to resign. Upon her refusal to resign, the company terminated the services of the victim.

Mehreen’s Counsel Raj Ali Kunwar, while speaking to Bol News, said that the case was heard by Justice Mazhar and Amjad Sehto and the judgment was reserved. “Justice Mazhar was then moved to Supreme Court after which the case was heard by another bench comprising Chef Justice Sindh High Court and Justice Yusuf Saeed,” he said.

The sources said that K-Electric obtained a stay order against the petition on grounds that Mehreen was no more an employee of the company, and hence could not file a sexual harassment case.

But Kunwar said that they were quite hopeful the stay would now be vacated by SHC and the petition could be dealt with by the Sindh Ombudsman.

“K-Electirc’s argument that the complainant is no more an employee is just ridiculous,” said Kunwar. “Mehreen was an employee when she was harassed, and only that matter.”

According to K-Electric’s Code of Conduct, its Board of Directors and employees including executive level and subordinate level employees, are required to observe the highest level of ethical standards and integrity in the conduct of their business activities.

Last month, Attorney General’s office moved a petition before the Supreme Court to seek review of a July 6 judgment in which the court had held that the Protection Against Harassment of Women at the Workplace Act of 2010 (PAHWWA) was a cosmetic legislation that lacked forceful application.

The Attorney General defended the PAHWWA by stating that it was an important piece of welfare legislation enacted by parliament for the protection of working women in pursuance of a constitutional mandate.

The petitioner contended the judgment had adopted an unduly restrictive interpretation of harassment, as defined in Section 2(h) of the PAHWWA, and it would significantly affect the objective behind enactment of the act.