Demanding transparency: Suspended finance secretary alleges corruption in LBA

He distributed pamphlets raising questions about LBA funds.

LAHORE: Advocate Pir Syed Fareedul Haq Chishti, whose membership of the Lahore Bar Association (LBA) has been suspended, has launched a campaign alleging corruption in the LBA.

Chishti has claimed that there are no records of parking lot contracts or funds given to the LBA by the government and other institutions. He distributed around 2,000 pamphlets in the lower courts with the underlying question of whether lawyers had the right to question LBA representatives regarding the association’s funds and expenses.

Chishti was the LBA finance secretary when his LBA membership was suspended for “calling a meeting and a strike without informing the LBA executive and taking steps contrary to the LBA’s welfare”.

Chishti says the suspension was illegal. He says he was suspended because he had voiced his concerns against corruption in the LBA and members of the executive who he claims were involved in embezzling LBA funds.

The pamphlet Chishti circulated raises the following demands: lawyers should be informed about the LBA’s funds and expenses; award of third-party parking contracts should be transparent and lawyers should be aware about it; the LBA’s funds should be used for the welfare of women, young people and old lawyers; stipends should granted to the orphans and widows of deceased LBA members. The pamphlet asks whether the LBA president, who had suspended his [Chishti’s] membership without holding an open house meeting, had the right to lead the LBA. It also raises allegations against a clerk for “abetting violations”.

LBA Secretary Qaseem Aslam Hanjra said Chishti’s membership as finance secretary had been suspended because “he had been demanding a car from LBA funds”. He said this was a violation and misuse of power.

LBA President Chaudhry Ishtiaq said the allegations Chishti had raised against the LBA executive were false. He said the award of parking lot contracts was open and fair.

Chishti said that the LBA had no records of the funds granted to it by the government or other institutions. He said his membership was suspended after he demanded to see the records.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 23^rd, 2014.