PHC stops BISP recoveries from government employees’ salaries

PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court (PHC) on Wednesday ordered an immediate suspension of recoveries of Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) funds from the salaries of government employees and questioned why senior officers had not been subjected to departmental proceedings.

A two-member bench comprising Justice Ijaz Anwar and Justice Inamullah Khan heard several writ petitions filed against the deduction of BISP amounts from the monthly pay of government workers whose family members had received the stipend.

During the hearing, the bench directed that all such salary deductions be stopped until further orders.

Justice Ijaz Anwar observed that even Grade-20 officers had received BISP funds, but action against them was limited to salary recoveries.

"Departmental proceedings should have been initiated against them instead," the judge remarked.

Counsel for the petitioners, including Aminur Rehman Yousafzai and Umer Farooq, told the court that their clients were government employees whose family members had lawfully received financial assistance under the programme. They argued that the recovery exercise was being carried out in an arbitrary manner and that large sums were being deducted every month, leaving some employees with little or no salary.

Court seeks details on eligibility criteria

Jamal Abdul Naseer, Assistant Director Legal for BISP, appeared before the court and confirmed that recoveries were being made from both government employees and BISP staff who had received money under the programme.

During the proceedings, Justice Anwar directed BISP authorities to place on record a detailed report explaining the programme’s eligibility framework.

"You must inform us what the criteria was initially, how it changed over time, and who qualified for the assistance. Submit a complete, detailed report," the court ordered.

The bench also noted that an inquiry had earlier been conducted regarding the receipt of BISP funds by officers and employees of the district judiciary.

The hearing was later adjourned after the court summoned a comprehensive report from the Benazir Income Support Programme authorities.

The case before the PHC centres on challenges to the recovery of BISP payments from serving government employees after their family members received stipends under the social protection scheme. The court’s interim order means the deductions will remain suspended for now, while BISP is required to explain the criteria under which beneficiaries were considered eligible and how those standards evolved over time.

The proceedings also brought into focus the question of accountability within departments, with the bench specifically raising concern over the absence of departmental action against senior officials who had also received the funds.