KARACHI: Supreme Court has kept criminal original petition pending which is continuous threat for National Bank of Pakistan management in case their failure to implement the Supreme Court decision or delay clearance of outstanding pensioners’ benefits. Contempt proceeding can be initiated.  In its order by three member bench of Supreme Court headed by Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah said we find that there is no ground made out for review of impugned judgment. These civil review petitions along with applications for permission to file review are accordingly dismissed.

We have noticed with concern and dismay that this Court decided in favour of respondents pensioners on September 25, 2017 but still said judgment has not been implemented in spite of fact that no interim relief was granted by this Court. Respondent pensioners in spite of having won case from High Court and this Court have been deprived of this relief for years. Contempt petitions have also been filed by petitioners, which have since been pending before us. In this background we direct National Bank of Pakistan to implement judgment of this Court in letter and spirit within period of one month from March 20, 2024, order said. 

Hashmat Habib lawyer of pensioners pointed out that in year 2016 over Rs 37 billion was profit against National Bank of Pakistan’s assets of Rs 2,000 billion. In same balance sheet it is confirmed that Rs 54.355 billion were lying in pension fund, Rs 44.999 billion were placed in long term investment therefore it is not difficult to pay about Rs 60 billion to petitioners forthwith.  He said we have submitted written way out that Bank has spent over millions of rupees from national exchequer on account of professional fee and litigation which is national law therefore judicial notice may be taken and all responsible persons involved into this mega corruption must be brought to justice.

Published in The Daily National Courier, April, 08 2024

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