ISLAMABAD: President Dr Arif Alvi upheld order of Wafaqi Mohtasib directing university to pay pension share to its former professor who had served university for 14 years. President said that pension was hard-earned right that accrued to an employee by dint of his long, continuous and faithful service and deprivation or delay in grant of this right could not be permitted, except in accordance with law.

As per details, Professor Dr Ali Asghar Chishti (complainant) served at International Islamic University Islamabad (IIUI) from June 1985 to August 1999 as faculty member and he joined Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) after applying through proper channel. After his retirement from AIOU in 2020, he made request to IIUI for transfer of pension shares but same was not done despite issuance of letter of liability in his favour. Subsequently, he approached Wafaqi Mohtasib (WM) for relief, which passed order in his favour as during hearing, IIUI admitted his claim and assured him to redress his grievance. Later, IIUI chose to file representation with President against orders of WM.

President upheld order of Mohtasib directing IIUI to transfer pension share of complainant as per his request and based his order on decision of Supreme Court. He stated that it was an admitted fact that pension was not bounty but rather an employee earned it by dint of his long, continuous and faithful service.

In its judgement, Court stated that any violation of these directions shall amount to criminal negligence and dereliction of duty and if any delay in finalisation of pension benefits cases of government servants, widows or orphan children was brought to notice of Court, head of concerned department would also be held liable for contempt of Court and would be dealt with strictly in accordance with law.

Published in The Daily National Courier, March, 31 2023

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