Pakistan, Oct. 8 -- The Federal Constitutional Court (FCC) has ruled that 15 years of contributions are mandatory for an EOBI pension. The court said pension claims must meet the legal requirements set under the law.

The FCC approved an appeal filed by the Employees' Old-Age Benefits Institution (EOBI). In its 12-page written judgment, Chief Justice Aminuddin Khan set aside previous orders granting pension benefits. The case involved Javed Iqbal Bhatti, whose insured employment lasted less than six years.

The court held that a person who does not meet statutory requirements cannot be granted a pension. It said sympathy or considerations of fairness cannot replace mandatory legal conditions. The ruling therefore rejected the pension clai...