Senate Panel seeks answers over Zeeshan’s suicide, job termination and family compensation

The Senate Functional Committee on Human Rights has sought a detailed explanation from the Gujranwala Waste Management Company (GWMC) over the circumstances surrounding the death of sanitary worker Zeeshan, particularly his employment arrangement termination from service and subsequent financial assistance provided to his family.

ISLAMABAD: The Senate Functional Committee on Human Rights has sought a detailed explanation from the Gujranwala Waste Management Company (GWMC) over the circumstances surrounding the death of sanitary worker Zeeshan, particularly his employment arrangement termination from service and subsequent financial assistance provided to his family.

The matter was discussed during a meeting of the committee chaired by Senator Samina Mumtaz Zehri, where members questioned officials about Zeeshan’s employment status and the events leading up to his suicide.

One of the main issues raised by lawmakers was Zeeshan’s placement in the company’s IT control room. Officials told the committee that he was not a regular employee of GWMC but had been engaged through a third-party contractor.

The explanation prompted further questions from committee members, who wanted to know why a worker hired for waste-management-related duties had been assigned to an area dealing with information technology.

Lawmakers also sought clarification about the legal authority under which the third-party arrangement had been made. Officials informed them that the Suthra Punjab Act was enacted in 2026 whereas the relevant employment arrangement dated back to 2025.

The committee consequently asked officials to produce the documents governing the earlier arrangement along with the 2026 legislation. Members said these records were necessary to establish whether the company had acted within its legal mandate.

The circumstances surrounding Zeeshan’s death became a major point of discussion. Senators asked whether his removal from employment had any connection with his decision to take his own life and sought details about the events immediately preceding his death.

Officials said Zeeshan had been facing performance-related concerns and had received a letter regarding his performance. Members were also informed that he had previously been disengaged and subsequently brought back into employment.

The committee questioned officials about the timing of his final termination and the events that followed. Members sought clarity on whether any responsibility could arise if the termination was found to have contributed to the circumstances surrounding his death.

Company officials maintained that Zeeshan had been paid his salary in full according to their records. They said relevant financial material including bank statements had already been submitted to the committee.

Another issue that drew attention was the provision of a residential plot to Zeeshan’s family. Officials confirmed that a plot had been arranged for his widow and children.

When senators asked about the source of the funds used to purchase the property officials said financial assistance had been obtained from the contractor with involvement from the chamber and local community.

The committee chairperson questioned the basis for this arrangement and stressed that the matter required more than a general description of the assistance as charity. Members also sought an explanation as to why compensation had been considered appropriate while the deceased worker had simultaneously been described as having performance problems.

The committee decided that Zeeshan’s family should be invited to the next meeting so lawmakers could hear their account directly.

Officials were also directed to provide additional records relating to the employment contract and the legal framework governing the company’s operations. Particular attention was drawn to whether assigning a third-party worker to the IT control room was within the permitted scope of the arrangement.

The committee scheduled the matter for further consideration on September 15 and directed the concerned officials to return with written responses addressing the questions raised during the meeting.

The next hearing is expected to provide greater clarity about Zeeshan’s employment his termination the circumstances surrounding his death and the assistance extended to his family.