Pending dues: LHC seeks report on payment of arrears to pensioners
The court shall frame contempt charges against two Finance Dept officials
PHOTO: LHC.GOV.PK
LAHORE:
Justice Mansoor Ali Shah of Lahore High Court (LHC) on Friday sought a report on the payment of arrears to elderly pensioners.
The court also summoned two officials from the Finance Department to frame contempt of court charges against them for defying its orders.
The judge reprimanded Punjab Chief Finance Officer Rafique Ahmed and Lahore Finance Officer Muhammad Akhtar for being late and not sending on time a letter to district finance officers to resolve the matter.
They submitted an unconditional apology which the court rejected. The judge directed them to appear before the court on June 29 for framing of contempt charges against them.
The additional finance secretary submitted a notification stating that the pensioners would start receiving the restored pensions from July 1.
Advocate Safdar Shaheen Pirzada, counsel for the pensioners, said the government had defied court orders by delaying the matter for months. He said it seemed that the government had money to construct bridges and roads but not to pay the pensioners.
Justice Shah remarked that the court could not stop the government from constructing bridges and roads but it would make sure that its orders were implemented.
In 2014, the Supreme Court (SC) had ordered provincial and federal governments restore the commuted pensions of elderly pensioners.
Some pensioners in the Punjab had later requested the LHC to get the SC’s order implemented.
On December 20, 2014, Justice Shah had ordered the provincial government to submit a plan for the payment of pension dues. He had told the petitioners to approach the court in case they were not given a payment plan.
The chief secretary had then submitted a plan stating that the government was committed to paying the arrears of Rs28billion to the pensioners under the head of gratuity and other allowances until June 30, 2015.
The Finance Department had then issued a payment schedule under which payment of arrears to employees retiring until July 1, 1991, was to be made from February 1 to February 28, 2015.
The payment was to be made from March 1 to March 31, 2015, to those retiring until June 30, 1994.
Payment of arrears to the employees retiring on November 30, 2001, was to be made from April 1 to May 31, 2015.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 20th, 2015.
Justice Mansoor Ali Shah of Lahore High Court (LHC) on Friday sought a report on the payment of arrears to elderly pensioners.
The court also summoned two officials from the Finance Department to frame contempt of court charges against them for defying its orders.
The judge reprimanded Punjab Chief Finance Officer Rafique Ahmed and Lahore Finance Officer Muhammad Akhtar for being late and not sending on time a letter to district finance officers to resolve the matter.
They submitted an unconditional apology which the court rejected. The judge directed them to appear before the court on June 29 for framing of contempt charges against them.
The additional finance secretary submitted a notification stating that the pensioners would start receiving the restored pensions from July 1.
Advocate Safdar Shaheen Pirzada, counsel for the pensioners, said the government had defied court orders by delaying the matter for months. He said it seemed that the government had money to construct bridges and roads but not to pay the pensioners.
Justice Shah remarked that the court could not stop the government from constructing bridges and roads but it would make sure that its orders were implemented.
In 2014, the Supreme Court (SC) had ordered provincial and federal governments restore the commuted pensions of elderly pensioners.
Some pensioners in the Punjab had later requested the LHC to get the SC’s order implemented.
On December 20, 2014, Justice Shah had ordered the provincial government to submit a plan for the payment of pension dues. He had told the petitioners to approach the court in case they were not given a payment plan.
The chief secretary had then submitted a plan stating that the government was committed to paying the arrears of Rs28billion to the pensioners under the head of gratuity and other allowances until June 30, 2015.
The Finance Department had then issued a payment schedule under which payment of arrears to employees retiring until July 1, 1991, was to be made from February 1 to February 28, 2015.
The payment was to be made from March 1 to March 31, 2015, to those retiring until June 30, 1994.
Payment of arrears to the employees retiring on November 30, 2001, was to be made from April 1 to May 31, 2015.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 20th, 2015.