I retired as an Assistant Professor in 1989 from the College of Veterinary Sciences (CVS), Lahore. It was a part of the University of Agriculture Faisalabad (UAF) and payment of salaries and pension was the responsibility of UAF. Later on, CVS was upgraded as University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences (UVAS) in 2002.The employees who retired before up-gradation of CVS were regularly receiving their monthly pension from UAF through UVAS until May 31, 2013.There after pension has been stopped without any prior intimation.
On contacting UVAS authorities, I have been informed that funds for pension provided by UAF have been withheld. One of my colleagues submitted an application to the office of Provincial Ombudsman. A decision was given by the latter on 12-9-2013, directing the Vice Chancellor of UAF to make payment to the applicant within 30 days. The Vice Chancellor of UAF has taken the matter to the Lahore High Court, challenging the decision as well as the competence of the Ombudsman to hear this matter. Now the matter is sub-judice in High Court and its hearing is under process.
There is an apprehension that even if the decision is given in favour of petitioner, there is a likelihood that the matter may be taken to the apex court causing unnecessarily delay. It is quite obvious that all the pensioners are senior citizens who are already under stress. The latter may increase manifold with the current financial problem, especially, in the present inflation. The pensioners include both academic and non academic staff, and particularly amongst the latter if the pension being the only source of income, their miserable plight can very well be imagined. I would like to request all the government to take up the matter on humanitarian ground and an interim arrangement may kindly be made for payment of pension till the matter is settled between IJVAS and UAF.
DR. MUHAMMAD ASLAM BHATTI,
Lahore, November 27.