ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s President, Dr Arif Alvi has issued directives to the Employees Old-Age Benefits Institution to tender apologize to a retired security guard with a disability, who was not even given entry into the EOBI when he visited the office to pursue his pension matter, President’s media office said on Saturday.
Pakistan: President Asks EOBI to Apologize to Security Guard with Disability
In a press statement, President Secretariat Press Wing said that “as the President of Pakistan, expressed an apology to the citizen and ordered EOBI to take a deep look at their anti-poor practice.
Dr Arif Alvi expressed the statement while deciding upon a representation filed by EOBI against the decision of the Wafaqi Mohtasib asking the head of EOBI to consider the matter of Iftikhar Hussain (the complainant) as per the relevant regulations and rules.
The petitioner was a security guard working with a private firm, and during his job, he met with an accident in 2008, and became disabled.
The disabled security approached EOBI for pension but was refused payment of pension on the ground that his total insurable service was less than 15-year and the security guard was only entitled to the old-age fund. Feeling distressed, the retired security guard approached Wafaqi Mohtasib, which issued directives to EOBI to look his case and the forum then filed a representation with the country’s president against the Wafaqi Mohtasib’s decision.
Dr. Arif Alvi expressed his displeasure that the complainant, a simple labourer had to spend years for justice, which was disgraceful and showed poorly on EOBI.
APP reported that he said “The complainant said that years were spent as his case was misplaced and only found after ‘Sifarish’”.
He also expressed disappointment over the fact that the guard was not granted audience by the concerned authorities and was only permitted to enter the premises of the office after the intervention of a retired official.
Dr. Alvi said that EOBI had assured during the hearing of the case that his problem would be considered as per law and the case of the security guard might be placed before the EOBI for disposal of the matter within a month.
