Ombudsman provides justice to a widow justice after 39 years

Lahore: Ombudsman Punjab Javed Mehmood resolved the grievance of a widow of late Muhammad Arshad Patwari of Irrigation Department after 39 years and has ordered the Accountant General Punjab to pay the GP Fund amount with 39 years’ profit to the widow within a month and submit a report to Mohtasib Punjab Pension Cell. At the time of retirement in 1974, the GP Fund amount of Muhammad Arshad Patwari was Rs. 361 and Ombudsman Punjab has ordered to pay Rs. 93293 with the profit upto June 2013.

According to the details, Hanifan Bibi, widow of retired Patwari Muhammad Arshad of Irrigation Department and resident of Tehsil Chunian district Kasur submitted an application to Ombudsman Punjab that her husband retired in 1974 and an amount of Rs. 361 of his GP Fund was outstanding against AG Office. He was running pillar to post till his death for this amount. She said that she has also been running from pillar to post to Irrigation Department, District Accounts Office Kasur and AG Office for GP Fund amount during the last 39 years but all are of the view that payment has been made.

Ombudsman Punjab ordered Incharge Mohtasib Punjab Pension Cell and Advisor Wazir Ahmed Qureshi to inquire into the matter. Wazir Ahmed Qureshi immediately called for record from Irrigation Department and AG Punjab. Irrigation Department was of the view that neither the payment was made by AG Office to Irrigation Department nor the widow so far.

Due to the constant efforts of Wazir Ahmed Qureshi, ledger cards of GP Fund from 1974 to 1985 were traced out from the basement of AG Office, according to which, no payment was made to the widow by AG Office. Ombudsman Punjab said that the first case of Mohtasib Punjab Pension Cell was very complicated and old one and tracing out its record was very difficult task but it is a matter of pleasure that the widow got her right. He said that GP Fund amount is the personal amount of the government employees and the real amount of GP Fund of late Patwari was Rs. 361 but now AG Office will have to pay an amount of Rs. 93293 to the widow with profit of 39 years.