IC’s retired employees: PHC orders Peshawar’s varsity to release pension

Humayun Khan

PESHAWAR: Peshawar High Court (PHC) ordered University of Peshawar to immediately release pensions of 262 retired employees along with their widows of Islamia College which was stopped since August 2022.

A divisional bench of PHC comprising of Justice Lal Jan Khattak and Justice Sahibzada Asad Ullah heard writ petition of Professor Sher Haider along with 261 retired before establishment of Islamia College University.

The counsel Nazir Ahmad Advocate informed that petitioners were receiving pensions regular basis but in August 2022 the pensions were attached with observation that the pensioners employed in Islamia College while UOP couldn’t liable to pay retirement benefits.

University of Peshawar’s lawyer argued that the varsity is facing critical financial crisis and cannot able to pay pensions and added that Higher Education Commission has constituted committee to redress the issue. He added that liability of pensions shall be place either on Islamia College University or University of Peshawar after conclusion of report.

PHC observed that University of Peshawar has paid pensions till August, now stoppage of pension is unacceptable for prudent mind while added that attachment of retirement benefits equal to creating financial hurdles. PHC ordered that it is responsibility of UOP to provide pensions immediately and should continue till redressal of the issue by HEC’s committee.

The divisional bench of PHC comprising of Justice Lal Jan Khattak and Justice Sahibzada Asadullah directed University of Peshawar to continuously pay pension to 262 petitioner employees because they are already obtaining from Peshawar’s varsity while accepted writ petition of retired employees of Islamia College.