Daily Times

The Supreme Court of Pakistan (SCP) on Thursday sought a report on progress from provincial governments in the Workers Welfare Fund (WWF) case.

A three member bench headed by Chief Justice Gulzar Ahmed heard the workers welfare fund case. The SC has asked Sindh and Balochistan to submit report.

Chief Justice of Pakistan Gulzar Ahmed, during hearing of the case, expressed anger over the federal government, and warned that in case the matter were not settled, the court would be left with no choice but to itself distribute the funds among the workers.

“Why the government’s machinery isn’t working?” the top judge remarked while questioning the justification of retained funds by the officers in high ranks.

“The officers are roaming around and attend seminars only, and do not work […] are they appointed to take salaries and do no work?” the CJ asked, while warning that in case the court has a solution to the problem.

The CJ stated that the funds should be issued automatically and colonies were to be built for the workers, and observed none of the colonies were built by the government, and the officers were not releasing funds.

“The KP government built a colony but under what law does it gave its ownership rights?” he further questioned.

The CJP also asked whether the fund have been distributed similar to the distribution in other schemes.

The additional attorney general, Ilyas Bhatti, told the court that it was decided in the Council of Common Interests (CCI) that the Centre would collect all money. “Except Sindh, the federal government collects the [total] money of provinces.” Meanwhile, the court adjourned the hearing for three weeks while seeking details from the Sindh government of pending cases in the high court.