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PESHAWAR – The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) assembly September 27 approved a bill establishing the office of provincial ombudsman to provide administrative justice in a province where Taliban-linked militants previously exploited public anger over the quality of governance.
“This law will provide the people with tools to seek justice if any government department fails to deliver,” Law Minister Arshad Abdullah said after the house overwhelmingly voted to establish the provincial ombudsman in KP. The bill awaits the governor's signature, which is considered a formality.
The Taliban offers "alternative justice" to woo a public disenchanted by an allegedly unresponsive provincial government, analysts have said. However, residents of Swat and other areas that fell under militant control widely objected to practises like beheading, hanging of dead bodies in public and accusations of espionage meant to terrorise the public.
“Whereas it is expedient to provide for the establishment of the office of provincial ombudsman for protection of the rights of the people, ensuring adherence to the rule of law, redressing and rectifying any injustice done to a person through maladministration, suppress corrupt practices and to ensure good governance,” the KP government said in its statement supporting the legislation.
Ombudsman will protect rights
The ombudsman’s duties include “effecting changes in policy, procedure and legislation, educating the public, investigating and reviewing actions of the agencies,” while protecting the rights of women and children.
All other provinces in Pakistan enacted this law earlier, but KP had lagged. It represents part of a comprehensive strategy to improve governance and fight the worst militancy since the country's formation in 1947.
The law gives the ombudsman sweeping authority to make government departments accountable by accepting complaints from ordinary citizens, Abdullah told Central Asia Online. The ombudsman can act “if something is done contrary to law, rules or regulations or is a departure from established practise or procedure, unless it is bona fide and for valid reasons...,” he said.
The powers of the provincial ombudsman include investigating any alleged maladministration by any agency or its officers or employees on a complaint from any aggrieved person or from the governor, government, provincial assembly or Supreme Court.
Under the law, the ombudsman “shall also promote” the rights and welfare of women and children.
The KP governor will nominate the ombudsman on the advice of the chief minister for a single, non-extendable term of four years, the law stipulates.
Charges of poor governance, corruption and misuse of authority by officials have haunted the Pakistani government at all levels. The country's return to civilian rule in 2008 revived such accusations, and Pakistan's aggressively independent media have given the issue centre stage in both Islamabad and the provinces.
Supporters of the ombudsman's office say it will justify its establishment if it shrinks the space for militants to operate by increasing public satisfaction with governance.
“This law will provide the people with tools to seek justice if any government department fails to deliver,” Law Minister Arshad Abdullah said after the house overwhelmingly voted to establish the provincial ombudsman in KP. The bill awaits the governor's signature, which is considered a formality.
The Taliban offers "alternative justice" to woo a public disenchanted by an allegedly unresponsive provincial government, analysts have said. However, residents of Swat and other areas that fell under militant control widely objected to practises like beheading, hanging of dead bodies in public and accusations of espionage meant to terrorise the public.
“Whereas it is expedient to provide for the establishment of the office of provincial ombudsman for protection of the rights of the people, ensuring adherence to the rule of law, redressing and rectifying any injustice done to a person through maladministration, suppress corrupt practices and to ensure good governance,” the KP government said in its statement supporting the legislation.
Ombudsman will protect rights
The ombudsman’s duties include “effecting changes in policy, procedure and legislation, educating the public, investigating and reviewing actions of the agencies,” while protecting the rights of women and children.
All other provinces in Pakistan enacted this law earlier, but KP had lagged. It represents part of a comprehensive strategy to improve governance and fight the worst militancy since the country's formation in 1947.
The law gives the ombudsman sweeping authority to make government departments accountable by accepting complaints from ordinary citizens, Abdullah told Central Asia Online. The ombudsman can act “if something is done contrary to law, rules or regulations or is a departure from established practise or procedure, unless it is bona fide and for valid reasons...,” he said.
The powers of the provincial ombudsman include investigating any alleged maladministration by any agency or its officers or employees on a complaint from any aggrieved person or from the governor, government, provincial assembly or Supreme Court.
Under the law, the ombudsman “shall also promote” the rights and welfare of women and children.
The KP governor will nominate the ombudsman on the advice of the chief minister for a single, non-extendable term of four years, the law stipulates.
Charges of poor governance, corruption and misuse of authority by officials have haunted the Pakistani government at all levels. The country's return to civilian rule in 2008 revived such accusations, and Pakistan's aggressively independent media have given the issue centre stage in both Islamabad and the provinces.
Supporters of the ombudsman's office say it will justify its establishment if it shrinks the space for militants to operate by increasing public satisfaction with governance.