Open court held in Zhob on Provincial Ombudsman’s directive to hear citizens’ complaints

ZHOB: An open court was held under the Divisional Directorate on the directive of the Provincial Ombudsman. Divisional Director of the Provincial Ombudsman Sheikh Ismatullah Mandokhel, officials of various departments, DEO Sheikh Musa Khan Mandokhel, FC’s Major Muhammad Hashim, Jail Superintendent Abdul Sattar Mandokhel, Forest Department officer Sultan Mahmood Laoon and a large number of citizens attended.

Citizens’ complaints

At the open court, citizens raised a large number of complaints against various departments. They submitted written applications to the Divisional Director. The complaints were about alleged corruption and commissions in the District Council, the lack of health facilities and medicines at the DHQ Hospital, water shortage in the city, projects of the Public Health Engineering Department, recruitment in the Finance Department, the non-construction of the Wana, Sambaza and Qamaruddin Karez road, and long, unannounced load shedding.

Divisional Director Sheikh Ismatullah Mandokhel listened to the citizens’ complaints carefully. He assured them that the applications received would be acted upon in accordance with the law and the relevant rules, and that steps would be taken to redress them.

Purpose of the institution

He said the office of the Provincial Ombudsman gives the public an effective forum for redress of complaints against maladministration, misuse of authority, unnecessary delay and other administrative irregularities in government departments. He said the institution aims to provide free and swift justice to citizens, improve the performance of government departments and ensure transparent resolution of public problems.

Open courts give citizens a chance to bring their complaints directly to officials, while the departments concerned can be held accountable for resolving the problems.

Photo: Courtesy DGPR Balochistan