ISLAMABAD, Nov 23: The Supreme Court on Friday announced judgment in a case filed by 46 employees of the UBL regarding recovery of loans from their dues and other pensionary benefits.

A three-member bench had reserved the judgement on Thursday.

According to the judgment,”these petitions are directed against the judgment dated July 17, 2001, passed by Federal Service Tribunal, Islamabad, (hereinafter referred to as the Tribunal) in appeal No663 (R)CE of 2000 and other connected appeals.

“Relevant facts for the disposal of these petitions were:

“In Akram Zahoor Vs Federation of Pakistan (2000 SCMR 1232), this court while maintaining the order of termination from service of the petitioners under retrenchment scheme remanded their case to the bank for reconsideration of the same to the following extent:

“(i) Adjustment of loans obtained by the petitioners herein from the respondent-bank shall be made strictly in accordance with the respective loan agreements executed between each of the petitioners and respondent-bank.

“(ii) The grant of pensionary benefits shall be available to those petitioners who are found entitled in accordance with the service rules of the respondent-bank in force at the time of termination of their service.”

Disposing of the case in the above-mentioned terms, the court observed: “If the appellants are aggrieved with the decisions that may be rendered by the respondent-bank pursuant to this remand order, they shall be at liberty to approach the appropriate Service Tribunal afresh for resolution of the disputes arising out of the consent order highlighted in judgment.”

The petitions were dismissed and leave was declined.

The Supreme Court bench comprised Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Irshad Hassan Khan, Justice Mohammad Arif and Justice Mohammad Qazi Farooq.—APP