A broader definition

Pakistan's National Assembly has unanimously passed a resolution against harassment of women at the workplace, reaffirming that harassment is not limited to sexual behaviour alone. The resolution, presented by Pakistan Peoples Party member Shahida Rahmani, was approved by the House on 30 October, according to reports of the proceedings.

According to the resolution as reported, harassment also includes gender discrimination, threats, humiliation, insulting and hostile behaviour, and abuse of power. It refers to Articles 14 and 25 of Pakistan's Constitution, which protect dignity and equality, and to the Protection Against Harassment of Women at the Workplace Act 2010 and its 2022 amendment.

Why the timing matters

The resolution comes after a Federal Constitutional Court verdict earlier in October that read workplace harassment under the 2010 Act as necessarily sexual in nature. Women's legal groups and the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan criticised that reading on 23 October, warning it could make it harder for victims to seek justice and departed from a 2023 Supreme Court approach that treated hostile work environments as a form of gender-based discrimination.

The Assembly resolution does not by itself rewrite the Act, but it puts the House on record in favour of the broader interpretation.

What happens next

Supporters will now watch whether the resolution leads to clearer guidance for employers, complaint committees and ombudspersons, and to stronger protection against retaliation for complainants.

For women weighing whether to report mistreatment, the practical test will be enforcement: accessible complaints, timely decisions, and penalties that deter repeat behaviour. The unanimous vote gives that work political backing across party lines, even though implementation remains the harder task.

Sources: The Pakistan Desk