rki.news

ALTAF HAMID RAO.
MIRPUR ( AJK): May, 29 ; “Ombudsman and Ombudsman-like institutions are playing a critical role in upholding the rule of law, redressing grievances, thus fostering good governance.

This was stated by the Wafaqi Mohtasib (Federal Ombudsman), Mr. Ejaz Ahmad Qureshi, while addressing a webinar on “Ombudsmanship: Complying with the International Standards”, at the Wafaqi Mohtasib Secretariat, on Thursday.

Mr. Ejaz Ahmad Qureshi, who is also the current President of the 47-member strong Asian Ombudsman Association, said that it is a matter of great satisfaction that the institution of Wafaqi Mohtasib (Federal Ombudsman) has emerged as a reliable forum to address public grievances expeditiously and without any financial costs. He informed that the Wafaqi Mohtasib aligns its operations with the universally acclaimed benchmarks which are commonly known as the Paris Principles, the Venice Principles and the latest UN General Assembly Resolution 79/177.

The provisions of these international instruments provide comprehensive guidelines for efficient discharge of the mandate of ombudsman institutions, he maintained. Mr. Qureshi, further added that compliance with international standards lends greater credibility and legitimacy to the functioning of the ombudsman institutions all over the world.

The Principal and Dean of NUST Law School, Mr. Justice (Retd.) M. Nawaz Wahla in his keynote address, highlighted the significance of the international standards which characterized the functioning of the ombudsman and mediator institutions. He said that the UN General Assembly, through multiple resolutions has recognized the importance of ombudsman and mediator institutions in promoting and protecting human rights and fundamental freedoms in addition to good governance and respect for the rule of law.

The Webinar was attended by a large number of member institutions of the Asian Ombudsman Association (AOA), the OIC Ombudsman Association (OICOA), the Forum of Pakistan Ombudsman (FPO), members of academia and civil society.