ISLAMABAD:Parliamentary Secretary for Information Technology and Telecommunication Usama Qadri on Thursday said that the matter of PTCL pensioners was yet subjudice before the Supreme Court so it was decided to wait for the top court’s verdict and then would decide the matter accordingly.
Speaking on the floor of the National Assembly, he said that the matter had already been discussed in several board meetings about the legal status and financial implications as per actuarial valuation on the said matter.
He said that during the employment services of PTCL, who were entitled to get a monthly pension, and attained the age of 72 years, the PTCL gave options to the employees in 2001 in order to facilitate them.
PTCL employees were offered, either to draw pay in the existing Basic Pay Scales of 1994 or accept the enhanced revised pay scales and pension/commutation scheme 2001. This option was conditional upon withdrawing the right of restoration of commutation, he said.
He said that most of the employees opted for option (ii). Meanwhile, all pensioners who opted option (i) were being given restoration as per the rules whereas the pensioners who opted to surrender this right were not allowed the restoration.
However, pensioners raised this entitlement before the Supreme Court along with the pension case. Supreme Court didn’t allow this benefit and resultantly pensioners withdrew their case to avoid any adverse order, he replied.
He informed that another case of similar nature about the entitlement of restoration of pension is, at present, pending before the Supreme Court of Pakistan. Such requests are not entertained, as the matter is subjudice.