MY father had been associated with the Pakistan Health Research Council (PHRC) as a research officer (biochemist) in BPS-17 under the federal Ministry of Health for more than 25 years.

He passed away in 2011 even before his retirement. As per the policy, the federal government cleared all his dues at various times, including monthly family pension to us.

However, in January 2019, the government stopped paying monthly pension to the retired employees and families of the deceased employees of the department due to some technical mistake committed by one serving employee.

The pensioners filed petitions in the Islamabad High Court (IHC) (No 3220) and then went to intra-court appeal in 2020 and 2021. The IHC had ordered the government to disburse and continue to pay pension to all the pensioners.

Following the IHC order, the federal government filed a civil petition in the Supreme Court of Pakistan. After many years of legal battle, the Supreme Court of Psakistan finally upheld the IHC order, and declined all petitions in this regard onOct4,2024.

Three months later, the pensioners are still waiting to receive their pension amount despite clear orders from the two of the highest courts in the country.

This is sheer injustice. Will somebody somewhere look into the critical matter? Vijay Kumar Talreja Karachi