By: Javaid-ur-rahman
ISLAMABAD — Head of the Current Affairs Wing at Pakistan Television Centre, Tahir Mahmood, has been accused of harassing, irritating, bullying, threatening and hounding one of his female colleagues, Zar Nigar Ali, in order to get sexual favours and the lady has requested the Managing Director to save her from her boss’ bestiality.
The Head of the Current Affairs Wing Tahir Mahmood has reportedly threatened the female colleague with dire consequences in case she did not fulfill his desires. The lady producer in her statement given to Managing Director (MD) PTV has reported that the said officer was continuously irritating her with his remarks, looks and unwanted telephone calls that he makes late night even while she is at her home.
Reportedly the officer has forced her to join him at dinners and at his private apartment and upon her refusal, he has sent threatening signals that forced the lady to complain against him to the Managing Director. “He called me after office hours at my home at 08:30 p.m. while I was having dinner with my mother and children. He scared me, embarrassed me and put unwanted pressure for sexual favours. He gave me unwanted sexual dirty looks. When I refused to do so he threatened me of dire consequences,” according to one of the paras in the application submitted to the MD.
She further said in the application, “I required his signature on programme budget sheet and I visited his office along with a clerk Shakeel Butt. He let Shakeel go and stopped me in his office. He said that he signed several sheets for me and now I should return favours. He said that he will sack me from my job and my existing assignment.
“I notified to Agha Shorash, Director Current Affairs, about this incidence. I also reported to my husband in America, my family in Rawalpindi and my lawyer Shah Khawer,” she added. After receiving the application a three-member inquiry committee comprising Ehsan Qadir Hashmi, Channel Head & GM PTV, Javed Ali, Director News, and Qamar, Controller administration & Personnel, has been asked to ascertain the charges levelled by the woman Producer.
“Definitely, I will move the court if satisfactory response was not received from this enquiry committee.” Zar Nigar Ali said while talking to TheNation. The Producer said that she was asked to give evidences before the enquiry committee. “Should I keep video camera or voice recorder with me all the time,” she said, adding what the use of this Sexual Harassment Bill was as she was supposed to provide proofs. Because of such hindrances and having fear of shame in society, Nigar said, working women are not daring to register their complaints.
“I’m taking this step so that other women who avoid taking such step should get some encouragement to discourage male chauvinism,” she said in a confident manner, adding that she would fight till justice is done.
Sharing her observation, the Producer commented in a desperate way that in most of such cases some colleagues played a role as bridge and boss took the step to harass women. It would not be out of place to mention here that the incident if reported can be the first test case in order to gauge as to what change or what good Sexual Harassment at Workplace Act 2010 has brought into the society. The Act proposes imprisonment up to ten years if the charges of sexual harassment are proved in the eyes of law.
“How deep the legal emancipation of women has dug in the soil of our society that weaves religion and culture in a common thread of order-and-obey relationship is still an unanswered question for many,” she said, adding that howsoever unseemly it might seem, the fact remains that women, despite the Harassment Bill, are still victims of what was supposed to be ended by the Bill.
When contacted, In charge Committee Ehsan Qadir Hashmi confirmed that they were investigating the matter of sexual harassment. “It is confidential. We are probing into the matter. The finding of the report would be sent to Headquarter,” he added.
When contacted, another member of enquiry team Javed Ali said that the enquiry team was investigating into the matter. “Yes, we are recording statements,” he said, adding that in the light of evidence and facts, the enquiry would be carried out. He added, “We received this application in the last week of the previous month.” This scribe also tried to contact the Head of the Current Affairs Wing Tahir Mahmood but he was not available for comments.
Source: The Nation
Date:5/5/2010
