Sir: Pensioners in Pakistan used to be given cost of living allowance (CLA) on monthly basis by the federal and provincial governments until 2001. The sudden discontinuation was not explained to the pensioners. With the intervention of the Wafaqi Mohtasib (Federal Ombudsman), the federal government allowed the resumption of the allowance. The Punjab government however, failed to comply with the orders. Later, on the petition of a retired naib qasid and two other teachers, the Punjab Mohtasib, Mr Khalid Mahmood, ordered the payment of the CLA due from 2001 to 2012. Officers from grade 1 to 22 were included in the list. The notification further added that for the purpose of payment of CLA, letters had been sent to the State Bank of Pakistan and to all the branches of National Bank of Pakistan, the Punjab Accountant General (AG), and the Director General Audit Punjab. The notification read that the first installment of CLA arrears would be paid on April 1, 2012, the second on November 1, 2012, and the third on January 1, 2013. When I called the AG office to get the details of my dues, I was appalled to know that the Punjab government has decided to give CLA only to those who have retired after 1996; however, according to the order of the Punjab Mohtasib, all those who had retired before 2001 were eligible to get the allowance. I can only request my journalist brothers to look into the matter, find out the truth behind the story, and help us get our rights. KHAN H MAJID Lahore