LHC seeks govt reply on plea challenging pension cuts

The Lahore High Court has sought a detailed response from the Punjab government and the finance special secretary on a petition challenging the provincial government’s recent decision of reducing pension benefits for the government employees.

The chief justice heard the petition filed by Muhammad Aslam and others. In compliance with the court's earlier directive, the finance special secretary appeared before the bench. During the hearing, the petitioners’ counsel, Advocate Maqbool Sheikh, argued that the Punjab government had amended services rules to curtail the pension entitlement of retired employees.

“Under the new amendments, the government has reduced the pension to equivalent of three years’ salary,” he submitted, terming the move a violation of the established pension formula and long-standing administrative practice.

He further contended that the government’s decision was unconstitutional and contrary to the fundamental rights of retired civil servants. “The reduction in pension not only undermines financial security after retirement but also contravenes the principles of fairness and legitimate expectation,” the counsel maintained.

The petition urged the court to declare the Punjab government’s decision to reduce pensions as illegal and void. After hearing the arguments, the court issued notices to the finance special secretary and other respondents to submit their written replies and adjourned further proceedings until December 2.

Last month, the Supreme Court had underscored that the right to pension is a constitutionally protected entitlement, not a matter of generosity, and is inherently tied to the dignity and livelihood of retired employees.

"Pension is not a matter of bounty, charity, or benevolence - it is a right protected under Articles 9 and 14 of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, 1973 and inseparably linked with the right to life, dignity and livelihood, for without sustenance in old age, these rights ring hollow," stated a 10-page judgment authored by Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah.

The ruling noted that it should be taken more seriously for those public servants for whom it is a crystallised return on years of faithful service, a form of deferred wages earned through the sweat, labour, and loyalty of an employee. "It embodies the principle that those who serve must not be cast aside in their twilight years," it added.