Pakistan Supreme Court rules widow entitled to pension over siblings

The Supreme Court of Pakistan issued a landmark judgment clarifying that a widow, not the deceased employee’s siblings, is the statutory beneficiary of a pension unless a specific law provides otherwise. The four‑page decision, authored by Chief Justice Yahya Afridi, dismissed an appeal by the siblings of a deceased employee of the Peshawar Electric Supply Company (PESCO) who sought inheritance rights over the pension.

The court emphasized that pension benefits are governed by dedicated service rules and statutory provisions, not by general inheritance law, and therefore cannot be claimed solely on the basis of legal heir status. The ruling upholds the earlier Peshawar High Court decision and sets a precedent for future pension disputes in Pakistan.