RASC News Agency: On Saturday, September 7, a group of retired government employees once again protested in front of the Taliban’s Retirement Fund Office. These retirees claim that a Taliban official from the fund warned them that they would be arrested and imprisoned if they continued their gatherings. The protesting retirees stated that they had gathered outside the Retirement Fund Office, demanding their long-overdue pension payments. They assert that they have not received their pension for the past three years.
One of the protesters told the media that a Taliban official threatened them, saying that until an official decision is made, they are not allowed to gather in front of the office. This is not the first time retirees have protested; on June 24, a similar demonstration took place, where protesters expressed their frustration at the lack of response from the Taliban officials.
In a related move, in April this year, Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada issued an order to stop deducting pension contributions from government employees’ monthly salaries, hinting at the possible abolition of the pension system in Afghanistan. Retired government employees are now increasingly worried about the potential end of the pension system and the loss of their rightful payments.
For three years, retirees have repeatedly protested, demanding their pensions, which many say is their only source of income. Despite their ongoing pleas, Taliban officials have yet to address their grievances, leaving many retirees in dire financial straits.
