Government lawyer assures court of assisting retired govt employee

Retired official had moved SC for his pension dues from 2002-19

Our Correspondent July 16, 2019

he believes that he and his family are facing life threat after the video scandal. PHOTO: FILE PHOTO: AFP

KARACHI: The Supreme Court disposed of a petition, pertaining to non-payment of pension to a government employee 12 years after retirement on Monday, on the assurance of the deputy attorney general (DAG).

A two-member bench comprising Justice Gulzar Ahmed and Justice Sajjad Ali Shah heard the petition pertaining to unpaid pension to engineer Muhammad Eesa of the irrigation department at the Karachi registry.

The petitioner's counsel said that his client retired in 2002 but no pension payments were made to him till 2012. He was paid Rs500,000 in 2012 after he served a legal notice, said the counsel adding that increases allowed by the government in the pension from time to time were not being paid to his client. The counsel prayed the court to direct the government to pay Eesa's dues from 2002 to 2019.

"Government employees are being paid pensions 10 years after their retirement? What system is this where employees are given pension years after their retirement?" remarked Justice Gulzar. "The cheque should be given on the last day of employment," he added.

Justice Gulzar asked the DAG who would address the suffering of this retired man.

"I will take a personal interest in the matter," said the DAG, assuring the court that he would help the petitioner.

The court disposed of the petition on the DAG's assurance while directing the DAG to refrain from prolonging the matter.

‘Illegal appointment’

Separately, the same bench issued notices to the secretary of the Interprovincial Coordination Council, Selection Board chairperson, Acting Director Dr Abida Perveen, the deputy general and others while hearing the petition over the appointment of the acting director of Karachi University's (KU) Sheikh Zayed Islamic Centre.

Petitioner Javed Alam's counsel argued that appointments were made at the Islamic Centre in violation of rules. He said that the selection board was also formed in violation of rules. An assistant professor has been appointed as the acting director, he maintained. Dr Abida Perveen's appointment as acting director is illegal and she should be barred from working, he argued.

The court issued notices to relevant parties and adjourned the hearing.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 16^th, 2019.