The Lahore High Court on Wednesday sought replies from Chairman National Press Trust (NPT), Ministry of Information and others in a petition of a veteran journalist, Shafqat Tanvir Mirza, seeking release of pensionary entitlements withheld by NPT.
The petitioner, who is suffering from lungs' cancer, has pleaded the court to direct the respondent to release his pension. The court expressed displeasure over unnecessary delay by the respondents in releasing the withheld pension of the petitioner despite directives issued by different courts.
The court admitting the petition for regular hearing directed the respondents to file replies by April 10. Mirza through his counsel Maqsooma Zahra Bokhari prayed to the court to direct the respondents to pay the past pension approximately amounting to Rs 1.2 million immediately, enabling him to get his treatment with dignity and respect.