KARACHI: On a pensioner's complaint about alleged delay in increase of pension, the Federal Ombudsman has advised the House Building Finance Company Limited (HBFCL) to refer the matter to its board of directors (BoD) to consider whether pensioners were entitled to 20 percent raise in their pension.
The Ombudsman office giving recommendations over a review petition by a HBFCL pensioner, Qamaruddin Siddiqui, sought compliance within 30 days.
Qamaruddin Siddiqui, who retired from service on January 12, 2012 on attaining the age of superannuation, alleged in his complaint that HBFC did not increase his pension since 2012 despite 47.5 percent raise in pension by the Federal Government from 2012 to 2015.
The Ombudsman in the original findings of February 01, 2016 had observed that no mal-administration seemed to have occurred on part of the HBFCL and had rejected the case.
It was cited that the HBFCL has its own pay scales approved by the BoD, and that, according to a court order, the board is competent to decide the question regarding increase in pension.
A representative of the HBFCL at the hearing on January 13, 2016 had stated that the BoD has increased the pension of those, who retired up to December 31, 2011 vide Circular of January 30, 2015.
However, the complainant filed a review petition, which was partially allowed and heard on March 31, 2016 at Regional Office, Karachi. During the course of review proceedings, the case was discussed at length and it transpired that in view of the judgement of the Islamabad High Court of November 27, 2012 the BoD is competent to decide the question regarding increase in pensions.
Therefore, at this stage it seems appropriate that Agency (HBFCL) should refer the matter to the Board of Directors of HBFCL to consider the point as to whether the petitioners were entitled to 20 percent increase in their pension for the period from retirement to the issuance of fresh notification dated 20.01.2011 w.e.f. 01.07.2010.
Thus, the Agency is liable to refer the matter to the Board of Directors of HBFCL to consider the pension issues of the complainant.
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