Federal Ombudsman Meets Chief Justice Islamabad High Court to Enhance Access to Justice
The Federal Ombudsman of Pakistan, Mr. Naveed Kamran Baloch, a member institution of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation Ombudsman Association (OICOA), called on the Chief Justice of the Islamabad High Court, Justice Sardar Muhammad Sarfraz Dogar, at the Islamabad High Court.
During the meeting, both sides discussed matters related to improving access to justice for citizens and strengthening mechanisms for the resolution of public grievances. The dialogue focused on enhancing institutional cooperation, promoting transparency, and reinforcing accountability systems.
Mr. Baloch highlighted the performance of the Federal Ombudsman institution, noting that over 261,000 complaints were decided in the past year, with 97% of decisions already implemented. He emphasized that these cases were resolved within the stipulated timeframe of 60 days, demonstrating the institution’s efficiency and commitment to timely justice.
The Ombudsman also underscored that the complaint process is free of cost and does not require legal representation, making justice more accessible to the general public. He further noted that the Ombudsman’s offices are operational in 28 cities across Pakistan, and that outreach initiatives such as open courts (Khuli Kachehris) are regularly conducted in remote areas to facilitate prompt resolution of complaints.
The Chief Justice appreciated the significant role played by the Federal Ombudsman in providing free and expeditious justice to citizens, particularly in cases of maladministration within government institutions.
Both sides agreed to further strengthen coordination between the judiciary and the Ombudsman institution, with the shared objective of improving access to justice and enhancing the effectiveness of public complaint redress mechanisms.
This engagement reflects Pakistan’s continued commitment to promoting transparency, accountability, and citizen-centered governance, in line with OICOA’s mission.
