Provincial Ombudsman holds Open Court in Loralai, directs quick redress of complaints

LORALAI, 2 November: The Provincial Ombudsman Balochistan held an Open Court (Khuli Kachehri) at the Loralai District Council Hall. It was presided over by the Regional Director of the Provincial Ombudsman, Abdul Ghaffar Mian Khail. Assistant Commissioner Loralai Ahmed Zeb Kakar, DSB Karim Mandokhail and officers and heads of various government departments attended.

Representatives of various political parties in Loralai, office-bearers of the traders’ association, social workers, tribal leaders, local elders, citizens and journalists attended the Open Court in large numbers. On the occasion, citizens presented their problems and complaints directly to the Regional Director of the Provincial Ombudsman and the government officers concerned.

Public complaints

Citizens presented many complaints about the lack of clean drinking water, electricity load shedding, shortage of Health facilities, closure of government schools, lack of basic facilities at educational institutions, shortage of medicines at basic health centres (BHQs/BHUs), roads, sanitation, drainage and other public issues.

The participants complained that people were facing serious hardship in some areas because basic facilities were not available. They said delays in redressing some complaints about government institutions were adding to public difficulties.

Regional Director’s directive

Addressing the gathering, Regional Director of the Provincial Ombudsman Abdul Ghaffar Mian Khail said government officers and officials were servants of the people. He said they should perform their duties in a spirit of service rather than rule over the public. He said solving people’s problems at their doorstep was the basic responsibility of the government and government institutions.

He directed officers of the departments concerned not to limit the complaints received at the Open Court to paperwork, but to take practical steps to resolve them and give people timely relief. He made it clear that negligence and unnecessary delay in redressing public complaints would not be acceptable under any circumstances.

The Regional Director said the institution of the Provincial Ombudsman had been set up to give people effective redress against negligence, incompetence and unnecessary delay by government departments. He said citizens should present their complaints fearlessly to the forum concerned so that they could be redressed in accordance with the law and rules.

During the Open Court, officers of the departments concerned listened to the complaints presented by citizens. They also gave the necessary directions and assurances on the spot for the resolution of several problems.

Citizens, political and social circles and elders welcomed the holding of the Open Court by the Provincial Ombudsman. They said such public forums gave citizens the chance to bring their problems directly to senior officials. They demanded that Open Courts continue regularly for the quick resolution of public problems.

Photo: courtesy DGPR Balochistan