Zeeshan case, Senate seeks salary record from 1st day of employment

Islamabad: The Senate Functional Committee on Human Rights ordered Punjab police to obtain the complete bank record of deceased sanitary worker Zeeshan from the first day of his employment until his death after his family and officials gave different accounts about his salary and employment record.

The directions were issued during a detailed meeting chaired by Senator Samina Mumtaz Zehri, where the committee examined the circumstances surrounding Zeeshan’s death in Gujranwala and the support provided to his family.

The committee directed the Punjab DIG Investigation to obtain the worker’s bank record and verify how much salary was actually paid to him during his employment. The chairperson said the record would help clarify the dispute over whether he was receiving around Rs19,000 or the stated amount of Rs40,000.

Zeeshan’s brother told the committee that his brother had initially received around Rs19,000 and later faced a period of about one and a half months without salary. He said his brother had raised concerns about his pay before his death.

Representatives of the Gujranwala Waste Management Company gave a different account and said salary payments were made through the banking system according to the number of days worked. Officials said a full month’s payment could reach Rs40,000, while an employee working additional days could receive more.

The committee therefore decided that the bank record should be examined instead of relying only on statements from either side.

The employment record of Zeeshan also came under discussion. Company officials said he had originally been engaged through a third party as a helper and had worked in the IT control room as a Naib Qasid. He was later hired through another outsourced company and worked at a workshop yard.

The chairperson questioned why the employment record and earlier statements about his duties appeared different and directed officials to bring the relevant contracts and employment documents to the next meeting.

The committee also questioned the status of a card reportedly linked to Zeeshan’s employment. The company representative said the card was not an official employee card issued to Zeeshan as a direct employee of the company and maintained that such cards could be made independently. The committee asked for the supporting documents to be produced for examination.

Financial support given to Zeeshan’s family was also discussed. Company officials said a plot had been arranged for the family and that assistance had been provided through the Punjab Employees Social Security Institution.

Officials said the family had received a Rs40,000 funeral grant and that a death compensation case for Rs1 million had been processed. A pension related case for the widow was also said to be under process.

Zeeshan’s brother told the committee that the family had received financial assistance from different sources, including payments from the company and support from people associated with the local business community.

The committee, however, sought a clear record showing which payments came from the company, which came through social security and which were provided by other individuals or organisations.

The meeting also revealed that the Gujranwala Waste Management Company has around 4,200 workers, with officials stating that the workforce is largely engaged through third-party arrangements.

The committee questioned the terms of such outsourcing contracts and asked whether workers were receiving the wages they were supposed to receive. Officials said Punjab had introduced a system under which outsourced companies are expected to ensure payment by the fifth day of every month.

According to officials, 138 of Punjab’s 151 outsourced tehsils had received salaries by the fifth of the month, while payment issues remained in some other areas because of court matters, contract problems, tax issues or contractor performance.

The committee directed officials to provide the relevant contracts, salary records, inquiry report and other documents at the next meeting.

Senator Samina Mumtaz Zehri also said the concerned Deputy Commissioner, police officials and other relevant persons would be called to the next meeting so that the committee could examine the matter from all sides.