Ban on housing societies business of govt officials on cards

Adviser to the Prime Minister on Accountability and Interior Shahzad Akbar on Saturday informed the Islamabad High Court (IHC) that recommendations regarding a complete ban on the business of housing societies being run by the government officials and institutions had been forwarded to the government.

The PM’s aide noted that the involvement of government officials in the business of housing societies fell within the ambit of clash interests.

He said the recommendation for amendment in Cooperative Society Act 1925 and 2018 Rules had been sent to the government.

There was no restriction on the society to use the name of an institution in the Cooperative Society Act 1925. Currently, 24 housing societies are being run using the name of different institutions.

It is not necessary that the whole institution is involved in the business if it is being run using a particular society’s name while new rules were also formulated in 2018 regarding the cooperative society.

The premier’s aide also submitted reply in the IHC regarding the increase of crime cases in the federal capital.

The court was told that Police Order 2002 was in not in line with Local Government Act 2015 and that its implementation was not possible at the moment.

According to the Police Order 2002, the local government had to form a safety commission. The Local Government Act 2015 does not authorise the representatives to hold the elections of safety commission members.

Akbar maintained that proposals for new legislation had been sent to the government for the implementation of Police Order 2002 and added that a committee had also been formed on missing persons, which had started its work.

The IHC had directed the premier’s aide to submit a report on various administrative and law and order issues faced by the Islamabad Capital Territory.