Ministry orders probe into Islamabad Club sexual harassment controversy
The Islamabad Club found itself amid another
controversy on Sunday after a female official of the elite club accused a
"powerful member" of the club's management committee of sexually
harassing her.
The accusations surfaced four months after a
female assistant manager of the Islamabad Club had reportedly committed suicide
inside the club.
The recent allegation against the club's
official has prompted the Ministry of Capital Administration and Development
Division (CADD) to constitute a team to investigate the matter.
The accuser, who worked at the club, accused the
committee member of sexual harassment in a written complaint to the CADD
secretary. She alleged that the accused used to summon her to his office only
to discuss unofficial matters, including her "personal life".
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"He would make me sit in his office for
hours, showing photos and narrating stories of his youth. I felt insecure in
his office," she wrote in her letter to the ministry.
Taking notice of the harassment allegation, the
ministry of CADD constituted a three-member committee to probe the allegations
against the club's committee member. The investigation committee has been
directed to complete its proceedings within a month.
The office order, a copy of which is available
with DawnNews, has assigned Joint Secretary CADD to investigate the
matter.
The female employee alleged that she was fired
immediately after she refused to obey the "immoral" orders of the
club's committee member.
“First I felt insecure in the office of that
person, but now I am worried about the future of my three-year-old daughter. He
[the club official] had threatened me of dire consequences,” she told DawnNews.
When contacted, the accused official refused to
comment. However, Shahid Khan, the administrator of the club, said that a
committee had been constituted by CADD to probe the allegations and that the
truth will prevail.
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