Meddling: High Court seeks answers from DC, commissioner in MCCI building case

Petitioner says DC illegally halted auction process to lease out floors

PESHAWAR: A Peshawar High Court bench issued notices to the Mardan commissioner and deputy commissioner for illegally allotting a section of a building being used by the Mardan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI). It also sought replies from both officials.

A division bench, headed by Justice Musarrat Hilali, heard a writ petition filed by office-bearers of MCCI through their counsel Moazzam Butt. The bench was informed that the executive committee has decided to lease vacant floors of the building owned by MCCI and asked the district nazim to participate to ensure transparency.

Butt said the district nazim tasked the naib nazim with overlooking the auction process. A public notice was published in daily newspapers after the naib nazim approved the deal.

He said the DC jumped into the fray and stopped the auction. He followed it up with a notice restraining auction proceedings at the behest of one Haji Nasimur Rahman who, as the counsel claimed, was a relative of the incumbent education minister.

The attorney said the building was the sole property of the MCCI and was handed to the body by the provincial government in 2009, along with Rs50 million for its construction.

He said a notification issued by Chief Minister House, dated May 6, 2016, stated the floors should be rented out to MCCI, WCCI and SBCM as the building was public property. He asked the DC to submit a report to the CM. The counsel said the MCCI was an independent trade entity and DC’s interference in its affairs was unlawful.

The bench questioned the lack of proof of property seizure or harassment by the DC. However, the petitioner’s counsel argued the notification by the DC’s office was evidence of him trying to influence the process.

He requested the official should be restrained from harassing the petitioners and that the notification of the DC office to participate in the auction process also be suspended.

The bench issued notices to the DC and Mardan commissioner before adjourning the case.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 7^th, 2016.