PESHAWAR, Dec 11 (APP): Federal Ombudsman of Pakistan, Ejaz Ahmad Qureshi here on Thursday said that the process of accountability must be based on transparency and his institution was playing its active role in resolving the problems of poor citizens, orphans, and widows free of cost.
Addressing a press conference at Federal Ombudsman Secretariat Regional Office, Ejaz Ahmad Qureshi said that the process of accountability must necessarily be based on transparency, and that cases pending in courts should be resolved on a priority basis to provide relief to litigants.
He added that the Federal Ombudsman’s institution was playing its outstanding role in resolving the issues of poor citizens, orphans, and widows swiftly without any expense.
Federal Ombudsman of Pakistan Ejaz Ahmad Qureshi said that on arriving in Peshawar, he wanted to meet friends to thank and inform them how much the institution has benefited from their cooperation.
He said that the benefit was not only for the institution itself, but for the clients, ordinary poor people, women, men, widows, and orphaned children who have no pensions, do not receive insurance payments, or face issues in banks that prevent their funds from being released.
He said that court cases take time and incur financial costs, and that they have tried to ensure access to everyone so they may receive timely and cost-free justice.
Ejaz Qureshi added that they have also resolved issues through the jirga system in areas where there was no justification of his institution and make around 6,000 decisions annually.
He said that where the institution does not have jurisdiction, they help parties reach mutual settlements, which require neither expenses nor long delays. Disputes are resolved in two to three months, while their deadline is 60 days, he added.
He said that his four-year term was nearing its completion and expressed gratitude to all who cooperated with him and with the regional office and thanked everyone.
Upon arrival, he was warmly received by officials of Federal Ombudsman Secretariat Regional Office Peshawar.
He was briefed on matters related to the office and progress on cases. Federal Ombudsman expressed satisfaction over performance of the regional office.
He directed the staff to utilize all available resources and professional skills to provide relief to litigants swiftly.