Women anchors’ complaints: Neutral inquiry panel probing harassment claims

ISLAMABAD: Minister of State for Information, Broadcasting and National Heritage Marriyum Aurangzeb on Wednesday said that the present government under the leadership of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was a true believer in women rights and had zero tolerance for harassment of female employees at the workplace.

Responding to a calling attention notice in the National Assembly, she said an inquiry was launched against a complaint of sexual harassment by two female anchors.

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The inquiry team constituted by the PTV managing director consists of members that have zero conflict of interest and represent a cross-section of the information ministry, she said. The minister said the mandate of the committee was threefold: one, to review and gather all facts pertaining to the case; two, access all necessary information to validate any ambiguities and third, produce a report outlining their findings and highlighting their recommendations while serving in the committee without passion or prejudice.

In the wake of the submission of the complaint, the accused was suspended but the complainants continued to work there, she said.

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The minister pointed out that during the inquiry proceedings, the claimants had unilaterally decided to appear on a private media channel and discussed the details of a case that was under active investigation.

This act, according to the minister, brought the inquiry under public scrutiny. In doing so, they compromised the integrity of the committee and that of the institutions involved as well as the accused, the minister said.

(Courtesy by Express Tribune)