The decision to take money from government employees’ paychecks to help flood victims has been revoked, according to an assistant session judge in West Karachi.
In a letter to the Secretary of Finance, he called the deductions “unconstitutional” and pointed out that government workers are dependent on both their paychecks and the crops they raise on their land, both of which have been damaged by the recent floods. The judge further pointed out that “deductions have already been made in June by the Sindh High Court.”
He said that such deductions without the employees’ consent violated the constitution and he urged that the provincial Ministry of Finance reconsider its judgment and restore the employees’ money. If the money is not returned, the court said, the workers will have no choice but to file a case before Sindh High Court (SHC).
After continuous rains and accompanying flash floods caused the loss of life and property and displaced millions, the federal government asked the public for donations to help those affected by the floods across the country.
On Thursday, officials in the Pakistani armed forces and members of the federal cabinet stated that they would each donate one month’s salary to the victims of the recent floods. The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) has released a statement saying that officers of the armed forces have deposited their pledged contributions to the Prime Minister’s (PM) Flood Relief Fund, while other troops continue to donate voluntarily. The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) has released a statement saying that officers of the armed forces have deposited their pledged contributions to the Prime Minister’s (PM) Flood Relief Fund, while other troops continue to donate voluntarily.
