PESHAWAR, June 20: Several government employees have voiced concern over the pathetic attitude of the treasury department officials towards the retired persons who visit the department to encash their benefits after retirement.

The retired employees deplored that they had completed 25 or more years in government service, but when they visited the office concerned to get benefits, the officials asked them to furnish two witnesses. “ They also demand bribes for releasing money”, the employees alleged.

“I had got completed all the formalities from my department where I served for 25 years. But when I went to the treasury, they asked me to bring two witnesses so as my identity could be confirmed,” said a retired dish-washer of the health department, Gul Rehman. “ I showed them complete documents including identity card, but they didn’t accept them and demanded bribe”, he added.

Another man who worked as ward orderly in the health department said he had got retirement six months ago, but “I’m running from pillar to post to get the job benefits”. He said he was poor and needed the money to arrange dowry for his daughter. Though he had got the cheque from the Accountant General office two weeks ago, the officials at the treasury were demanding bribe for clearing the cheque.

An official at the treasury department told Dawn that they were following the procedure required for the withdrawal of money. He said the officials were extremely cautious in the encashment of benefits. Since some people withdrew money on behalf of someone else, therefore, they had to ask employees to furnish two witnesses.