The Lahore High Court (LHC) has barred Anti-Corruption Department from taking disciplinary action against members of private cooperative societies in hearing of petition against anti-corruption intervention in cooperative housing societies disputes.
During proceedings on Friday, the LHC issued interim stay order against inquiry by Anti-Corruption Department.
Justice Muhammad Jawad Zafar heard petition of Sheikh Sadaqat, General Secretary of Private Cooperative Society.
Mian Dawood Advocate appeared on behalf of petitioner.
In the case, Anti-Corruption Department submitted written reply.
The prosecution took stand that the Cooperative Societies Act states that society members fall within the definition of public servants.
The Lahore High Court has interpreted the fact that society members are public servants, Mian Dawood Advocate pleaded.
Mian Dawood submitted that after the Lahore High Court’s decision in Khalid Wasim case, society members are no longer public servants.
In the Khalid Waseem case, the Lahore High Court clarified that society members do not receive salaries from the government treasury, Mian Dawood Advocate submitted.
He further submitted that after Khalid Waseem case, Anti-Corruption Department’s authority to intervene in disputes of cooperative housing societies has been nullified.
The court has fixed September 21 as the date for final discussion.
Court ordered that no disciplinary action should be taken against the petitioner till the next date.
Anti-Corruption Lahore has registered an inquiry against the society on the request of a regular complainant, Mian Dawood Advocate pleaded.
He submitted that Anti-Corruption has no authority to intervene in disputes of cooperative housing societies.
Under the law, the forum for all kinds of disputes against cooperative societies is only the Cooperative Department, Mian Dawood Advocate submitted.
He submitted that Anti-corruption has become an institution for the misuse of power against citizens over the past 3 years.
Citizens are blackmailed by registering inquiries on baseless applications, Mian Dawood Advocate pleaded.
He submitted that the current case is a prime example of misuse of powers by the Anti-Corruption Punjab.
The ongoing inquiry against the society in the Anti-Corruption Department should be declared as an overstepping of jurisdiction and should be quashed, he pleaded.
About The Author
