ISLAMABAD, Feb 24: The Supreme Court on Tuesday reserved its verdict on 165 identical appeals filed by the ex-employees of State Bank of Pakistan who were retired under the golden hand shake scheme , seeking initiation of contempt of court proceedings against the State Bank of Pakistan for not implementing the apex court orders regarding provision of pension benefits.

The Supreme Court Bench comprised Chief Justice Nazim Hussain Siddiqui, Justice Javed Iqbal and Justice Abdul Hameed Dogar. Senior advocate, Khalid Anwar appearing for the State Bank submitted before the court that as per rules of the State Bank (Golden Hand Shake Scheme), the employees were given pension and other related benefits.

He contended that the employees were demanding other benefits of medical fund, benevolent fund and some other benefits, which were not the part of pension benefits.

Akram Sheikh, counsel for ex- employees of State Bank submitted that a full bench of the apex court had directed the State Bank to give the pension and other pension benefits to the employees from December 1, 1997, but the Bank was not implementing the apex court orders.

Senior advocate Fakhruddin G. Ibrahim, Akram Sheikh and Majeeb Pirzada, counsel for employees have already concluded their arguments. The Supreme Court after hearing both the sides reserved its verdict, to be announced later.

Earlier, the Supreme Court, while setting aside the judgment of the Federal Service Tribunal had ordered the State Bank to give the pension and pension benefits to the golden hand shakers from the date of their last salary drawn.

The petitioner have submitted that the State Bank was not giving them the pension benefits in accordance with the Supreme Court ruling, thus contempt proceedings may be initiated against the State Bank management. -PPI