KP assembly strengthens provincial ombudsman act

PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Assembly approved amendments to the Provincial Ombudsman Act 2010 to reinforce the authority of the ombudsman’s office and improve governance.

The recent legislative action includes the passage of the Ombudsman (Amendments) Bill, which reassigns key powers to the Provincial Ombudsman and restores several critical provisions previously omitted from the original act.

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Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur led the push to improve the powers of the ombudsman within the provincial framework. Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Aftab Alam supported the expansion of authority, which facilitated the bill’s passage.

Provincial Ombudsman Syed Jamal Ud Din Shah stated that the amendments will “improve” the ombudsman’s ability to address public grievances.

The revised act includes plans for establishing additional regional offices at the divisional level to improve accessibility for complainants. Shah said that the new offices will allow people to file complaints “more conveniently” within their districts.

The amendments to the Provincial Ombudsman Act are designed to enhance the institution’s capacity to manage citizen complaints and uphold administrative justice. The revisions aim to strengthen the ombudsman’s ability to operate independently and resolve issues more effectively.

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The KP Assembly also introduced several other legislative measures. These include the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Zakat and Ushr (Amendment) Bill 2024, the Provincial Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill 2024, and the KP Police (Amendment) Bill 2024. The Assembly also presented the Assembly Secretariat Employees Terms and Conditions of Service Bill 2024.

The Provincial Ombudsman (Amendment) Bill 2024, which was introduced by Law Minister Aftab Alam, passed with a majority vote. This legislative move is part of broader efforts to enhance accountability and transparency within the province’s administrative framework.