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188 co-op housing societies declared 'fake' after scrutiny

KARACHI: Some 188 cooperative housing societies and 275 agriculture cooperative societies formed in Sindh have proved "dummy" after their detailed scrutiny.

This was stated at a meeting held under the chairmanship of Sindh Minister for Food and Cooperation, Iftekhar Ahmed Soomro here on Thursday.

The meeting reviewed the report submitted by the cooperation department as well its performance.

The minister said that registration of these societies will be cancelled under the rules and regulations of Cooperative Societies Act, soon after fulfilling the required legal formalities.

Soomro said immediate action was taken against the societies and department officials for causing loss to government exchequer.

He said a committee has also been formed in this regard which will soon submit its recommendations to law department for improvement and amendment in the cooperative laws.

The Provincial Secretary Food and Cooperation, Munawar Opel informed that FIRs have been lodged against 10 officials and employees of the cooperation department. Of them three have been arrested and remaining will brought to book soon.

The officers against whom FIRs have been registered include Ahmed Saeed Abbas, Joint Registrar in Grade 19, Kausar Naseem Qureshi, Deputy Registrar and MD Sindh Cooperative Housing Authority, Nasimul Haq, in Grade 18, Masroor Ahmed Siddiqi and Ghulam Nabi Channa, Assistant Registrar Karachi in Grade 17, Cooperative Inspector Abdul Rasheed, Sub-Inspectors Kazi Latif and Abdul Baqi Siddiqi, besides two retired officers deputy registrar Hameeda Akhtar and Mohammad Ibrahim Channa.

He said that Kasuar Nasim Qureshi, Masroor Ahmed Siddiqi and Abdul Rasheed have already been arrested.

The minister was informed that under section 54 of Cooperative Societies Act of 1925, cases were registered in 74 cases out of 46 cases decided so far. The concerned authorities have been told to dispose of remaining cases expeditiously according to law.

Iftekhar Soomro directed that the process of scrutiny be geared up and no personnel involved in corruption and malpractices be spared. He said immediate action be taken against them.

He asked the officers to work hard with dedication and honesty and identify the elements and societies involved in irregularities. APP