A Pakistani diplomat was dismissed from a foreign service on Sunday because of the accusation of harassing a female official during his term of service as the head of the mission in Italy in 2018, Express Tribune reported.
The Pakistani Federal Federal Ombudsperson for the protection of harassment, Kashmala Tariq ordered Riyaz’s dismissal after proven harassment accusations. He was also slapped with a fine of 50 Lakh Rupee Pakistan, which will be paid to the complainant, a 20th grade officer at the Ministry of Trade.
In his complaint, the woman said she was placed on the Pakistani mission in Italy led by Riaz in 2018. She claimed that the senior diplomat asked her to visit other cities in other countries, which were not related to his work profile.
She also alleged that the ambassador also forced her to keep her residence near his official home. Riyaz, who retired from foreign service and is now the president of Institute of Regional Studies, a think tank of the Pakistan foreign ministry, allegedly forced the woman to listen to his stories on a daily basis, which had objectionable content.
According to another Pakistan website Samaa TV, the woman alleged she was insulted by her boss and was forced to return to Pakistan before the completion of the three-year-term.
The ombudsmen directed that a copy of decision be sent to the ministry of foreign affairs within seven days, the Pakistan website reported.
