Retirees at a gathering in capital Kabul voiced concerns over continued unpaid pensions, saying that they have not been paid their pensions since the fall of the former government.
The retirees said that despite their protests and calls for their rights, they have not received their pensions.
“I have worked for 45 years. I don’t have food now to eat like my other peers. Either they are retired civilians or military retired personnel, they don’t have food to eat and medicine to heal,” said Abdul Khaliq, a retiree.
“There is nothing left behind, I sold everything including home appliances and furniture. The government says it will pay our pensions, but when? Why don’t you give it to us?” said Omar, a retiree.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Finance (MoF) said the payment of pensions for the retirees is waiting on approval from the Islamic Emirate’s leader.
“The plan for the payment of the pensions has been sent to the leadership of the Islamic Emirate. According to Mr. Mujahid, the Darul Iftah has also approved it. We hope to soon receive instruction from the leadership, so we will start our work,” said Ahmad Wali Haqmal, a spokesman for the MoF.
Earlier, the MoF said that the number of retirees is 49,000 with 10,000 of them women.
Retirees who gathered in front of the pensions department in Kabul once again expressed concern over their dire economic condition and demanded the interim government pay their pensions.
They said that the Islamic Emirate is neglecting their rights and, despite consecutive promises, their pensions have not been paid.
“We have gone everywhere, and they had only one word– that they are not authorized. Then to whom can we refer if they don’t have the authority? We cannot go to Amirul Momineen,” said Mirwais, a retiree. “Our rights should be provided. We don’t want anything else. We don’t want to argue. You should give us our money by any path,” said Jamaluddin, a retiree.
