Civilized nations and governments ruling the state with the mandate of the people invariably show great respect for their senior citizens and take all possible steps to make their lives comfortable as a token of appreciation for the services that they rendered in the development of their countries. They are extended multiple privileges that reflect the commitment of the nation to look after their welfare in consonance with tenets of social justice. They take pride in their commitment and ability to ensure a productive and dignified life for their ageing populations. No wonder that some UN Conventions and charters adopted by international organizations also put great emphasis on keeping the elderly people in good stead.
The major privilege and state patronage of the senior citizens particularly those who have been government servants during their lives, is a pension that is given to them to ensure that in their old age, they can survive with dignity and respect. However, the ruling elite in Pakistan, particularly the PML (N) seems criminally insensitive to the plight of the pensioners who are also senior citizens as is evident from discriminatory treatment meted out to the pensioners in the just announced budget. While the serving government servants have been given a ten per cent raise in their salaries along with a decrease in the rate of taxes besides other benefits, the pensioners have been doled out only a 7% increase in their pensions.
Pledges and tall claims do not fill the bellies of the people.
Last year also while the government servants in grades 1-16 were provided a 25% increase in their salaries and from grade 17-22 were favoured with a 22% raise, the pensioners were shown charity with only a 15% increase. The same treatment was meted out to them by the PDM government led by PML (N). The serving government personnel were given a 35% raise while the pensioners received only half of it. That is shameful on the part of those who have invented this discriminatory policy against senior citizens.
It is difficult to understand the logic behind this unusual callousness. Does the government think that the pensioners have not been affected to the same extent by the snow-balling inflation as have the serving government employees? Does it think that the pensioners live in a different world where they are immune from the debilitating impact of the unusual increase in the cost of living? Are the pensioners children of the lesser God or second rate citizens?
The government has surely shown criminal insensitivity to their plight by giving them a rough deal. People were actually expecting higher rate of relief to the pensioners than the serving government servants. The Prime Minister and the finance Minister who never tire of pronouncing their benign credentials laced with the resolve for fairness to all segments of the society from every convenient roof-top, have acted contrary to their claims.
Their decision to add to the miseries of the pensioners/senior citizens deserves the harshest possible condemnation. What the government has done is unfair, against the norms of social justice and also constitutes breach of Articles of the constitution which prescribe and emphasize equality of citizens.
Unfortunately in spite of the tall claims of the government has miserably failed to come up to the expectations of the masses. Its style of governance and management of the economy leaves much to be desired. It has now antagonized millions of pensioners as well who constitute a significant proportion of the voters. Pledges and tall claims do not fill the bellies of the people. Hearts and minds of the people cannot be won through hollow slogans. It becomes even more painful when the government policies assume the hue of discrimination. The government is better advised to reconsider the issue in the light of the ground realities with a tinge of compassion to avoid negative fall out.
It is pertinent to point out that in the past all the governments have invariably treated the serving government employees and pensioners at par in regards to raise in their salaries and pensions. PPP government during 2008-13 stands out in regards to enhancement in the salaries and pensions and treating them both fairly in conformity with norms of social justice and the legal obligations of the ruling government.
The disposition of the coalition government led by PML (N) towards pensioners and their insensitivity to the problems of old age is indeed deplorable. There is no escape from the reality that the economy of Pakistan is in a pretty bad shape. There are also no two opinions about the fact that the snow-balling inflation has hit all the segments of the society really hard, more so the salaried class and the pensioners. But there is no justification whatsoever to make discriminatory decisions.
I think there is still time to rectify this injustice before passage of the budget. PPP which is a partner in the coalition standing true to its pro-poor disposition and respect for the pensioners must exert pressure on the government to deal with the pensioners in a fair manner.
In case the justice is not done then this inequitable disposition of the government towards pensioners would make a fit case for suo muto notice by the Supreme Court. It affects millions of pensioners across the country and qualifies as a matter of public interest. The pensioners may not be in a position to hire a lawyer to plead their case in the court of law. Therefore the CJ should take suo motu notice of this injustice and discrimination against senior citizens of the country.
The writer is a former diplomat and freelance columnist.