Thousands of workplace harassment and women’s inheritance cases in Punjab province remain unresolved due to the prolonged absence of a Provincial Ombudsperson, a vacancy that has continued for nearly nine months. The position has been unfilled since May 2025, when the previous officeholder’s term ended, resulting in a growing backlog and leaving many women without timely access to justice, according to The Express Tribune.

The Ombudsperson’s office, established in 2013, was previously led by figures such as Dr Mira Phailbus, Farukhanda Wasim Afzal, Rukhsana Gilani, and Nabila Hakim Ali Khan. However, the absence of a current appointment has significantly slowed complaint resolution, even as harassment cases have steadily increased in recent years.

Most complaints originate from departments like education, health, police, and social welfare, where women make up a large share of the workforce. Official data shows that over 6,600 cases were filed between 2021 and 2024, with a high resolution rate during active leadership. In contrast, from 2025 to March 2026, more than 3,000 cases were reported, with over 1,000 still pending due to the leadership gap.

Victims report ongoing delays and systemic barriers. One education officer described facing continued harassment and pressure from superiors, with her case unresolved for more than a year. Inheritance disputes under the Punjab Enforcement of Women Property Rights Act 2021 have also been affected. Of the more than 10,000 cases filed since the law’s enactment, around 4,000 remain pending. Women such as Shazia Bibi and Samina Nadeem describe years of repeated hearings without resolution, while some also face intimidation from family members, as reported by The Express Tribune.

Legal analyst Abdullah Malik attributes the delays to administrative gaps, poor coordination, and procedural weaknesses, also suggesting that recent appointments, including that of Dr Najma Afzal Khan, may have been politically influenced. Meanwhile, officials like Uzma Rubab state that interim measures, such as helpline 1043, remain operational.