ISLAMABAD, August 2025 – In a landmark ruling, the Federal Ombudsperson for Protection Against Harassment (FOSPAH) has declared that constant and invasive CCTV surveillance of employees constitutes workplace harassment, setting a significant precedent for workplace privacy rights in Pakistan.
The case of Saneem Afshain vs. Azhar Abbas, CEO of Yashal English House, Rawalpindi, revealed that the complainant was subjected to targeted monitoring and intimidation, including the sharing of CCTV screenshots. The Ombudsperson ruled that such conduct created a hostile work environment, ordering Rs50,000 in compensation for the complainant and a penalty of censure against the accused.
Mandatory reforms were also directed, including the formation of an internal inquiry committee and the public display of the workplace code of conduct in both English and Urdu.
FOSPAH stressed that harassment extends beyond unwelcome advances to include behaviours that undermine dignity, privacy, or instill fear. “This case is a reminder that surveillance cannot be misused to control, target, or intimidate employees. Privacy and dignity are fundamental workplace rights,” the institution stated.
The ruling comes months after Supreme Court Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah reaffirmed that workplace harassment is rooted in abuse of power rather than sexual desire, while upholding earlier rulings by the Punjab Ombudsperson and Lahore High Court in another harassment case.
Both developments highlight the crucial role of Ombudsman institutions and the judiciary in upholding safe, respectful, and rights-based workplaces across Pakistan.
