Allegations of Sexual Harassment against Head of Chancery at Pakistan Consulate, Los Angeles

Los Angeles: As 2015 draws to an end, Pakistan Consulate Los Angeles is still reeling from the effects of what went on at the Consulate this year.
After serving less than a year as the Consul General at the Pakistan Consulate Los Angeles, Mr Hamid Asghar Khan was recalled from his post by the Government of Pakistan. Government’s dissatisfaction with Mr Khan, largely stemming from the community complaints against him, forced his premature replacement, according to insiders. His last day as the Consul General at Pakistan Consulate Los Angeles was December 20, 2015.
During this year various complaints were also lodged against Mr Qamar Abbas Khokhar, the Head of Chancery at the Consulate General of Pakistan, Los Angeles.
It has been alleged that the work environment created by Mr Khan and Mr Khokhar at the Pakistan Consulate Los Angeles was very hostile towards female employees. During this year only three female interns were hired by the Consulate – none of these interns are now working at the Consulate. It has been alleged that these three female interns and another female staff of the Consulate who had been working at the Consulate for several years, left their jobs due to the poor working environment towards the female employees at the Pakistan Consulate, Los Angeles.
In September 2015, one of the three interns, whose name is being withheld to protect her identity, lodged an official sexual harassment complaint against Mr Khokhar with Pakistan’s Federal Ombudsman Secretariat for Protection against Harassment of Women at Workplace.
In her complaint she wrote; “I am writing to complain about the behavior of Mr Qamar Abbas Khokhar, Head of Chancery at the Consulate General of Pakistan, Los Angeles. Throughout the past seven months of my employment, Mr Khokhar has sexually harassed, manipulated, bullied, and retaliated against me in an effort to exert his position and power. Inappropriate comments, sexual innuendos, work manipulations related to my personal behavior, and unsolicited close proximity have all been a part of this. His actions have violated (and continue to violate) fundamental tenets of dignity and respect that all of us, as human beings, have an undisputed right to. As a proud Pakistani-American-Muslim woman, it is both my right and my duty to bring his appalling behavior to your attention.”
In her letter to the Ombudsman, she provided a brief background about herself and her very reputed family, followed by an overall detailed description of the harassment that she alleged to have been subjected to. The document chronicles many specific incidents and alleged unprofessional and demeaning behavior of Mr Khokhar.
The hearing on this case was held by Pakistan’s Federal Ombudsman in November 2015 and the decision on this matter is expected to be handed down on January 2, 2016.
Mr Qamar Abbas Khokhar could not be reached for his comments.