Historic Visit Strengthens Ombudsman Collaboration for Justice and Women’s Empowerment
Independent Report
By M. Ilyas Mullakhel
PESHAWAR, Oct. 25: A landmark development in Pakistan’s accountability and grievance-redress framework took place as the Honourable Ijaz Ahmad Qureshi, Ombudsman of Pakistan, paid a historic first visit to the office of the Honourable Ms. Rubab Mehdi, Ombudsperson (Female Mohtasib) for the Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The meeting underscored a shared commitment to strengthening coordination between federal and provincial ombudsman institutions, with a special focus on the protection of women’s rights and improved access to justice across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Both offices discussed strategic measures to enhance service delivery, transparency, and the removal of systemic barriers encountered by complainants seeking redress.
During the visit, the Federal Ombudsman expressed full support for institutional collaboration and endorsed a proposal for quarterly coordination meetings among all Ombudsmen and Ombudspersons nationwide. The initiative aims to establish a unified platform for data-driven monitoring, policy harmonization, and fulfillment of international reporting commitments.
The strengthened collaboration is also expected to enhance Pakistan’s engagement with global oversight organizations, including the United Nations, CEDAW, and the International Ombudsman Institute (IOI).
Mr. Qureshi reaffirmed his support for the institutional membership of the KP Ombudsperson’s Office in international ombudsman networks. He also extended an invitation to Ms. Mehdi and her team to visit Islamabad for further consultations to formalize the partnership and advance mutual objectives.
The visit represents a major step toward building an integrated grievance-redress ecosystem in Pakistan — one where citizen-centric justice, women’s empowerment, and institutional accountability remain at the heart of national priorities.
