LAHORE: A 70-year-old widow has reportedly been waiting for 167 days for the release of her family pension following the death of her husband, raising questions about delays and alleged misconduct at the Pakistan Railways Accounts Office in Lahore.
Nasreen Rani, a dialysis patient and widow, says her husband, Muhammad Aslam, died on April 12, 2026, but despite the passage of nearly five and a half months, her family pension has reportedly not been released.
Documents provided by the family include a Government of Punjab Death Registration Certificate, which records Muhammad Aslam’s date of death as April 12, 2026. The document shows an entry or issue date of April 23, 2026, just 11 days after his death.
A separate bank account inquiry document, also dated April 23, 2026, has been presented by the family as part of the documentation relating to the deceased employee.
167 days and still waiting
The timeline highlights the length of the reported delay:
• April 12, 2026: Muhammad Aslam died.
• April 23, 2026: Death registration document was entered/issued.
• April 23, 2026: Bank account inquiry document was generated.
• September 26, 2026: The family says the pension remains unresolved.
• 167 days: Approximate period since the employee’s death.
• Five months and 14 days: Reported waiting period.
For a 70-year-old widow who is also undergoing dialysis, the delay has potentially serious financial consequences. The family says the pension is an essential source of financial support for her daily and medical expenses.
Allegations against accounts official
The individual case has also brought broader complaints about the Lahore accounts office to the fore. Applicants allege that hundreds of pension and family-pension cases are pending, although no official figure for the alleged backlog has been provided. Some applicants reportedly complain of repeated visits, unexplained delays and difficulties in obtaining clear information about the status of their files.
The most serious allegations have been directed against Assistant Accountant Rana Shahid, with complainants alleging intimidating behaviour and pressure on applicants seeking pension-related services.
There are also allegations of unofficial financial demands and inappropriate conduct toward women applicants.
These allegations have not been established as proven facts by a court or departmental inquiry. Rana Shahid and Pakistan Railways should be given an opportunity to respond to the specific allegations.
Questions over alleged backlog
The reported complaints raise several questions for Pakistan Railways:
• How many pension cases are currently pending in Lahore?
• How many family-pension applications have remained unresolved for more than 30, 60 or 90 days?
• How many cases have remained pending for more than six months?
• How many complaints have been lodged against accounts officials?
• How many complaints involve allegations of unofficial payments or harassment?
• How many departmental inquiries have been initiated?
Without publicly available figures, it is difficult to determine whether the reported delays represent isolated cases or a wider administrative problem.
The central question now is one of accountability: If a 70-year-old widow can wait 167 days for her family pension, how many other pensioners and widows could be facing similar delays at the Lahore Accounts Office?
Pakistan Railways should disclose the number of pending cases, investigate the complaints against officials and provide a documented explanation for the delay in Nasreen Rani’s case.
