It has been reported that the Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) is investigating allegations of sexual harassment against two of its officials at the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi.
Earlier this week, an academician from Amritsar accused some senior officials of the high commission in New Delhi of sexual harassment and indecent behavior.
A statement was issued about the alleged incident by Mumtaz Zahra Baloch, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Pakistan.
“We do not tolerate misbehavior by individuals visiting our missions,” she said. The timing of the allegations raised suspicions in her mind.
“While we are investigating the case, we are surprised at its timing and manner of presentation. All public grievances are handled through a robust mechanism,” she said.
As well as etiquette and behavior, Pakistan attaches great importance to visa and consular applicants. The diplomatic staff is under strict instructions to conduct themselves professionally, said Baloch.
In March last year, a woman professor from the city complained that she had been subjected to ‘questioning with sexual undertones’ and ‘lewd’ remarks by the officials at the high commission in Delhi.
She was scheduled to visit Lahore and Abbottabad for academic research. According to her, two senior officials asked her why she wasn’t married and about her sexual desires during her interview, and even tried to touch her inappropriately. Furthermore, she claimed that the officials asked her for sexual favors in exchange for a visa. The Ministry of External Affairs and other government agencies did not respond to her complaint.
