Supreme Court Rules Widow Is the Legal Beneficiary of Deceased Retired Employees’ Pension
Islamabad: The Supreme Court of Pakistan has ruled that the widow of a deceased retired employee is the lawful beneficiary of the employee’s pension and retirement benefits, not the deceased’s siblings.
The four-page written judgment was authored by Chief Justice Yahya Afridi.
According to the verdict, the legal entitlement to a deceased retired employee’s pension and related benefits rests with the widow or any person lawfully nominated under the applicable rules, rather than the employee’s brothers or sisters.
The Supreme Court observed that being a legal heir alone does not automatically entitle siblings to receive a deceased employee’s pension, as pension payments must be made strictly in accordance with the relevant laws, service rules, and institutional regulations.
The ruling came while dismissing an appeal filed by the siblings of a deceased Peshawar Electric Supply Company (PESCO) employee seeking a succession certificate for pension-related benefits.
The apex court upheld the earlier judgment of the Peshawar High Court, reaffirming that pension benefits are governed by statutory rules and cannot be claimed solely on the basis of inheritance.
