The two organisations raised their concerns at a roundtable in Lahore examining the implications of the verdict in Usman Shahid v. Nadia Sarwar for workplace harassment complaints, women’s safety and dignity at work.
WIL founder Nida Usman Chaudhary said the verdict’s interpretation of workplace harassment as necessarily sexual in nature marked a departure from the broader interpretation adopted in Nadia Naz v. President of Pakistan in 2023.
Participants warned that requiring harassment to have a sexual element, alongside independent corroboration, could limit access to legal remedies. They noted that workplace harassment often occurs in private and can include intimidation, exclusion, stereotyping and other forms of gender-based hostility.
Fazlia Tariq of the Digital Rights Foundation and lawyer Rida Hosain highlighted the challenges faced by complainants in reporting workplace abuse and collecting evidence, particularly in cases of cyber harassment and incidents without witnesses.
Shaharbano Raza of the Lahore University of Management Sciences warned that the verdict could undermine public trust in workplace inquiry committees, which require time to establish credibility. Journalist Fatima Razzaq also raised concerns about the selective application of harassment laws and the potential implications for pending complaints.
Participants stressed the need for sustained public engagement to ensure that workplace harassment remains a priority and that women can report abuse without facing unnecessary barriers.
Fazli Hadi of Shirkat Gah highlighted women’s continued underrepresentation in managerial and decision-making positions. Noorzadeh Raja of the Centre for Fundamental Rights called for stronger alliances with women parliamentarians and engagement with the National Commission for Human Rights.
Aliza Naqvi of AGHS urged WIL, HRCP and other organisations to maintain pressure for legal and institutional reforms.
The roundtable also explored possible responses to the verdict, including seeking a review, mobilising senior lawyers and journalists, engaging parliamentarians and assessing the impact of Pakistan’s workplace harassment law over its 16 years of implementation.
HRCP treasurer Husain Naqi called on lawyers, civil society organisations and journalists to work together to challenge the ruling. Lawyer Asad Jamal urged a close examination of the verdict and the law’s implementation, while Sunny Zia of HRCP said advocacy must also address the patriarchal attitudes that contribute to workplace harassment.
Participants called for stronger workplace harassment complaint mechanisms, clear guidance for complainants, transparent criteria for penalties and adequately supported ombudspersons.
The meeting concluded with a call for coordinated and sustained advocacy to protect women’s rights, strengthen accountability and ensure safer workplaces across Pakistan.
