KARACHI: The Sindh High Court has put a temporary hold on the decision issued by the Provincial Ombudsman against Moonis Alvi, the CEO of K-Electric, as per the report.
The court has sent notices to all relevant parties, asking them to submit their replies within a week.
During the hearing, the court instructed Moonis Alvi to deposit a fine of Rs 2.5 million while it reviews the petition that questions whether the Provincial Ombudsman has the authority to handle this case.
Representing Moonis Alvi, Barrister Abid Zuberi argued that the matter does not fall within the Provincial Ombudsman’s legal reach.
He said that K-Electric operates in various regions, including Hub and Windar, making it an inter-provincial company that falls under federal jurisdiction rather than provincial laws.
The court will continue proceedings after receiving replies from all sides and will further assess the limits of the ombudsman’s powers in this case.
Earlier, the Provincial Ombudsman of Sindh, Justice (R) Shah Nawaz Tariq, had ordered the removal of Moonis Alvi from his position and imposed a fine of Rs 2.5 million, ruling in favor of a harassment complaint filed by Mehreen Zehra, a former Chief Marketing Officer at K-Electric.
Zehra, who joined the company in 2019 as a consultant, accused Alvi of harassment and causing mental distress.
After reviewing the evidence, the Ombudsman found the claims credible and directed that Moonis Alvi be dismissed from his role. He also ordered the payment of the penalty within one month.
In case of non-compliance, the Ombudsman warned that action would be taken to seize Alvi’s assets, both movable and immovable. His national identity card and passport could also be blocked if the payment is not made.
This case is seen as a rare example of senior-level accountability in the corporate world, highlighting the increasing focus on workplace conduct and legal recourse for victims.