LHC challenges anti-corruption Punjab’s jurisdiction

The Lahore High Court (LHC) has sought a response from the Director of the Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) Punjab after the authority of the

The Lahore High Court (LHC) has sought a response from the Director of the Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) Punjab after the authority of the department to investigate disputes involving cooperative housing societies was challenged.

Justice Muhammad Jawad Zafar heard a petition filed by Sheikh Sadaqat, general secretary of a private cooperative housing society. Advocate Mian Dawood represented the petitioner.

During the hearing, the petitioner’s counsel argued that Anti-Corruption Punjab had launched an inquiry against the housing society following a complaint allegedly filed by a habitual complainant. He maintained that the anti-corruption agency had no jurisdiction to intervene in disputes involving cooperative societies.

According to the counsel, the Cooperative Department is the legally authorised forum for resolving disputes related to cooperative societies. He further alleged that Anti-Corruption Punjab had, in recent years, misused its powers by initiating inquiries on the basis of what he described as unfounded complaints, causing harassment to citizens.

The lawyer termed the inquiry against the housing society an alleged misuse of authority and asked the court to declare the proceedings beyond the anti-corruption department’s jurisdiction and annul them.

Following the preliminary hearing, the LHC issued notices to the concerned authorities and directed the Director of Anti-Corruption Punjab to submit a written response by August 28.