The Supreme Court agreed on Friday to wade into the issue of pensionary benefits of retired employees of banks and other state organizations in the country, saying it will develop principles for retirement benefits. Concluding his arguments being amicus curiae in a suo motu action regarding non-payment of retirement benefits by relevant departments before a three-judge bench led by Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar, Senior Advocate Makhdoom Ali Khan said case to case analysis of pensioners is humanly impossible so the court has to give minimum criteria in the current matter.
Granting 15 days to banks' counsels, Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar said in verbal orders that counsels for banks and state organizations should try to save their clients, the court and the pensioners from disrespect during the given time. Responding to arguments of Additional Attorney General for Pakistan Waqar Rana, the Chief Justice decisively observed, "For us the federation's point is that these petitions are maintainable."
After hearing all the parties of the matter including a number of retired employees of four private banks and various government departments' pensioners, Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar remarked that he will not express about lacunae in pensionary benefits at this juncture.
When Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar hinted at announcing verdict in the matter in hand after a week while asking counsels of parties to submit their formulation, the counsels sought one month time to submit formulations but former Attorney General for Pakistan Salman Aslam Butt requested for 15 days. Accepting the plea of Butt, Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar adjourned the hearing of the matter for 15 days.