SC directs govt to pay outstanding salaries to KDA employees

KARACHI: The Supreme Court on Saturday directed the Sindh government to pay the outstanding salaries of 98 repatriated employees of Karachi Development Authority warning that contempt proceedings will be initiated against the Chief Secretary and the Accountant General if payments was not made.

Taking exception to the non-payment of salaries to 98 repatriated employees of the KDA, the Supreme Court’s two member bench headed by Justice Gulzar Ahmed warned the provincial government that its accounts would be seized if the salaries were not released on Saturday (yesterday). The petitioners had submitted in the court that the KDA had earlier transferred two schemes to the Malir Development Authority along with its staff, but now, when the MDA is trying to transfer them back to KDA, it was not accepting them.

They added that they had not been paid salaries for the past 18 months. Besides, several other officers of KDA and MDA are still working on deputation which is a violation of the Supreme Court order.

The Supreme Court had declared own pay scale deputation after retirement and out of turn promotions, illegal in all the government departments.

Sindh Advocate General Zamir Ghumro submitted that chief minister Sindh has approved the summary for payment of salaries and the payment will be made by Tuesday. The court directed the advocate general to ensure payment to the petitioners within two hours and submit compliance report by Monday. The court observed that it is unfortunate that entire Sindh machinery is being run by clerks. Later, AG Sindh submitted that the accountant general office was opened and payment to the petitioners will be made on Saturday (yesterday).

Lawyers targeted killings: The Supreme Court also directed the Advocate General Sindh to pay compensation to the remaining 8 families of lawyers killed in incidents of targeted killings in the city. The court was hearing a suo moto case on the arrest of accused involved in the killing of lawyers and compensation to their families.

The Advocate General said that out of the 52 deceased lawyers, 44 families of slain lawyers were given Rs500,000 each as compensation while verification could not be made about the remaining 8 families of lawyers.

The court directed the advocate general Sindh to resolve the issue after meeting with the bar representatives and submit a compliance report within 15 days.