KARACHI: Sindh High Court division bench headed by Justice Salahuddin Panhwar has given provincial government five days to appoint Cooperative Housing Societies Managing Director and Registrar of appropriate grade and having legal knowledge of Cooperative Societies Act. Direction came on petitions of cooperative housing societies with regard to appointment of administrators in housing societies.

Court directed Chief Secretary and Cooperative Societies’ secretary to ensure that authority is notified under relevant law after fulfilling all requisite conditions as provided under Section 7 of Cooperative Societies Ordinance, 1982, within its true spirit.

Court said that it has come on record that cooperative societies’ registrar is grade-19 post, while grade-18 officer Zameer Ahmed Abbasi was working on higher grade post in complete violation of judgments of Supreme Court and high court. In matter with regard to appointment of Cooperative Societies’ Registrar, he court directed he provincial law officer to justify appointment of grade-18 officer on grade-19 post. Petitioner Aftab Ahmed had challenged Registrar’s appointment by Sindh government, saying that grade-18 government officer Zameer Ahmed Abbasi was appointed Registrar (grade-19 post) on March 5, 2024. Services Secretary filed comments on petition. Court asked Law Officer if government has no grade-19 officer who can be appointed as Cooperative Societies’ Registrar, ordering him to file comments on next date of hearing.

Cooperative Societies Secretary Akhtar Hussain Mirani placed on record notifications pursuant of court’s orders. Secretary said he is not competent authority to issue notifications with regard to appointment of administrators, as that is prerogative of MD and that post is lying vacant. Chief Secretary’s focal person said he would ensure that vacant post of MD is filled within five days and full-fledged Registrar of same grade having legal knowledge of Cooperative Societies Act would be posted within five days.  Court, warning that in case of failure, Chief Secretary would have to appear in court and explain non-compliance. Authority’s counsel said they have not been consulted by authority while issuing notifications as regards taking over any society. 

He said he had attended meeting in 2014 and since then he has not received any intimation regarding any meeting. Court directed Cooperative Societies’ Secretary, who is chairman of authority, to ensure that all members are taken on board, monthly meetings are held with regularity to oversee miseries/issues of societies and their grievances are resolved. Zameer Ahmed had unilaterally appointed persons of his choice as administrators of dozens of housing societies without stating any reasons. Affected residents were amazed, they protested that under what authority and law these fake and criminal administrators were appointed and demanding records of their houses and plots.  Affected people had agitated in front of Karachi Press Club and alleged that said registrar and his nominated administrators were involved in corruption and minting money through harassment.

Published in The Daily National Courier, May, 24 2024

Like Business on Facebook, follow @DailyNCourier on Twitter to stay informed and join in the conversation.