The Provincial Ombudsperson for Women’s office was established in 2013. Dr Mira Phailbus served from 2013–2015, Farukhanda Wasim Afzal from 2015–2017, Rukhsana Gilani from 2018–2021, and Nabila Hakim Ali Khan from 2021 to May 2025. Since then, the position has remained vacant. According to sources of The Express Tribune, harassment cases have increased over the past six years, but many remain unresolved due to the absence of an active office.
Most harassment complaints come from departments including Education, Health, Police, Population Welfare, Information, Minorities, Transport, and Social Welfare, where large numbers of women are employed. Official data shows that from 2021 to 2024, 6,654 cases were registered. In 2021, 1,358 cases were all resolved; in 2022, 604 were disposed of; in 2023, 1,812 were resolved; and in 2024, 1,880 cases were received, with 1,860 decided and 20 pending.
From 2025 to March 2026, over 3,000 cases were filed. Of these, 1,910 were decided while more than 1,000 remain pending, mainly due to the absence of a functioning female ombudsperson.
A female Education Department officer shared that she faces repeated harassment at work and is pressurized to meet officials privately. Despite filing a complaint, her case has remained pending for over a year with repeated hearings and no resolution.
Conversely, the Punjab Enforcement of Women Property Rights Act 2021 was introduced to secure women’s inheritance rights under Islamic law. Under this law, property rights cells were set up in ten divisional headquarters where women submit inheritance claims, which are verified by the administration and families are summoned to ensure legal distribution of shares.
Between 2021 and March 2026, more than 10,000 inheritance cases were filed. Around 6,000 women received their share, while over 4,000 cases remain pending. Lahore has the highest number of cases, followed by Multan, Sahiwal, and Dera Ghazi Khan. The total property involved is worth billions of rupees.
Affected women described long delays. Shazia Bibi revealed that her inheritance case has been pending for three years, with repeated hearings due to absence of family members. Similarly, Samina Nadeem’s case also remains unresolved despite repeated dates every one to two months. Another woman, Ayesha shared that she faces threats from her brothers through police pressure but refuses to withdraw her claim. “My case has been ongoing for two years, with repeated reports and valuations causing delays,” said Ayesha.
Legal expert Abdullah Malik explained that the absence of an ombudsperson has caused thousands of cases to remain pending while the recent appointment of Dr Najma Afzal Khan was politically influenced and allegedly against legal procedure. “Flaws in the Women Property Rights Act, lack of coordination with district administration, and parallel court cases are causing delays and slowing justice delivery,” said Malik.
Secretary Women Development and Ombudsperson spokesperson Uzma Rubab informed that a helpline (1043) has been set up under the Punjab Commission on the Status of Women. “Complaints are forwarded to departments, which are legally bound to form inquiry committees under harassment laws,” said Rubab.
Former Ombudsperson Nabila Hakim Ali Khan assured that complaints were handled under the law, and most cases were resolved quickly. “Public awareness has increased reporting, but there was no backlog during my tenure as many cases were settled through mutual agreement,” noted Khan.