Federal ombudsman visits KP office

PESHAWAR: Federal Ombudsman, Ejaz Ahmad Qureshi, paid a visit to the Provincial Ombudsman Secretariat and met Provincial Ombudsman Syed Jamal Ud Din Shah along with his staff.

According to a press release, Syed Jamal Ud Din Shah apprised the federal ombudsman of recent amendments to the Provincial Ombudsman Act and the restoration of the powers.The provincial ombudsman briefed the federal ombudsman on various steps taken by the provincial government to strengthen the Ombudsman Office, including the opening of a few more regional offices in Kohat, Mardan, and the merged districts.

Syed Jamal Ud Din Shah said that in 2024, the Provincial Ombudsman Secretariat had received a record number of complaints, which was more than in previous years. He mentioned that the majority of complainants received relief, as their grievances were resolved within the specific period prescribed in the Ombudsman Act.

He praised the role of the federal ombudsman, particularly for the important judgments on payments to persons affected by bank fraud.Ejaz Ahmad Qureshi appreciated the role of the Provincial Ombudsman Secretariat in providing quick relief to the common people.

He praised the steps taken by Syed Jamal Ud Din Shah as provincial ombudsman for opening regional offices in Dera Ismail Khan, Malakand, and Abbottabad, which, he hoped, would enable the people of those areas to lodge complaints in their region, avoiding the need to visit the Provincial Secretariat.The federal ombudsman lauded the Investigation Officers for handling every case on merit and deciding the matters on time.