SC grills bankers getting millions and denying pensioners even peanuts

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court (SC) on Wednesday expressed displeasure over absence of Allied Bank Limited (ABL) president despite court notice in a case regarding pension of retired bank officials. The ABL president was also fined Rs200,000 and ordered to be present today (Thursday) in the court. He was told to submit the fine to Fatmeed Foundation and show its receipt to the court. Lawyers of both parties have completed their arguments and Makhdoom Ali Khan will present his stance being friend of the court in this case. The bench headed by Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar and comprising Justice Umar Atta Bandiyal and Justice Ejazul Hazan heard arguments from both sides. The CJ called on rostrum Seema Kamil and asked her what her salary was and whether she knew problems of the pensioners. Reluctantly, she replied that her salary is Rs3 million.

Aqeel Nasir, another respondent, told the court that his salary is Rs2 million. The CJ expressed displeasure questioning if the bank has any touch with humanity or not. Seema Kamil said the bank has fulfilled its legal obligation. The CJ replied that there are some ethical obligations too. “You people are getting Rs3 million and Rs2 million salaries but you are not ready to pay pensioners Rs1321 a month,” he said. He told both of them to be present in court during hearings into the case. He questioned if it is the structure of corporate sector in Pakistan.

The court was astonished to know that banks are paying their pensioners as low as Rs360. It stopped the ABL lawyer from citing Indian court cases saying that the SC in Pakistan has done more for basic human rights in the country.