Supreme Court of Pakistan will take up for hearing case of 5000+ pensioners who are seeking increase in their pension from the EOBI (Employees Old-Age Benefit Institution), being run by the govt.
SC Judge Mr Justice Saqib Nisar will hear this case and he is most likely to give verdict in pensioners case today (Tuesday).
All these pensioners are retired industrial workers, including those who got retirement from Ravi Rayon, govt-run chemical manufacturing unit near Muridke.
Interestingly, the pensioners are contesting this case without lawyer and they have told the Judge that cannot afford to hire lawyer. A pensioner told the SC Judge in last hearing that he is getting 5200 rupees per month pension and he has spent about 3000 rupees to appear in this case and that his wife is patient of hepatitis. Upon hearing this Honorable SC Judge said that “from today I am your lawyer and your Judge” as well.
In previous hearing the SC Judge directed EOBI to increase pension of the complainants to Rs 7200 per month according to increase made by govt in pension, but so far the EOBI had not implemented this decision of the apex court. Let us see what decision the honorable Judge of Supreme Court takes tomorrow (Tuesday/Dec 6, 2016) to support the pensioners.
A sordid development is that the pensioners belong to all the four provinces, but neither the provincial govt nor federal govt are supporting these poor pensioners.