DERA ISMAIL KHAN: Former employees of the Gomal University demonstrated here on Saturday against the non-payment of pension for the last four months.

During a protest camp at GPO Chowk, the pensioners complained that the denial of payments had caused severe financial problems for them and their families.

They insisted that the government had promised the disbursement of pension, but it had yet to happen.

Patron-in-chief of the Gomal University Pensioners Association Prof Ahmad Shah led protesters, who carried placards and banners and shouted slogans for the release of pension before Eid.

“We approached the Peshawar High Court, which issued an order in our favour, leading to the signing of an agreement with the university’s administration. However, the agreement wasn’t followed, prompting us to move the court again,” he said.

Prof Shah said the government announced last month that it would release salaries and pensions before the start of Ramadan, but the pensioners didn’t get any payments.

He urged Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur to ensure the release of pension before Eidul Fitr to enable them and their families to celebrate the post-Ramazan festival.

“If our demand isn’t met, we’ll escalate our protest movement,” he warned.

REVIEWED: A meeting was held at the district and sessions court here on Saturday to review implementation of the orders issued by the Supreme Court and Peshawar High Court chief justices during their recent visits to Dera Ismail Khan.

District and sessions judge Dr Syed Anees Badshah Bukhari chaired the meeting, which was attended by the district health officer, medical director of DHQ hospital, Xen of the communication and works department, and the superintendent of Dera Ismail Khan Central Jail.

The participants reviewed work on the central jail, with the judge ordering its completion by June next year.

He also ordered the provision of basic medical care to prisoners by jail doctors and said medical specialists should be engaged with the cooperation of DHQ hospital.

The participants outlined a plan under which medicines prescribed for admitted patients, surgeries and specialist consultations will be supplied by the DHQ hospital, while other medications will be provided with the cooperation of the DHO.

SAMPLES SENT TO LAB: Samples collected from the body of a Vani victim’s father were sent to the Peshawar Medical College’s laboratory on Saturday for examination under judicial supervision in line with a court order.

Meanwhile, additional sessions judge Naseer Ahmad extended the interim bail of primary suspects in the Vani case, including Malik Inayat and Ramzan, for four days.

Investigation officer Zameer Hussain from Paharpur police station said results of the sample examination about the cause of Adil’s death would be submitted to the court.

Adil, a labourer from Bhagwani Shumali in Paharpur, allegedly took his own life over a panchayat’s decision to declare his daughter Vani to settle a dispute. His body was exhumed on the court’s orders.

Published in Dawn, March 16th, 2025