October 1, 2002	Tuesday	Rajab 23, 1423

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PESHAWAR, Sept 30: Former MNA and chairperson of the All Pakistan Women Association, NWFP chapter, Zari Sarfaraz has asked the government to take notice of the highhandedness of a serving official of the Pakistan Army for his alleged meddling in the associations’ affairs.

Speaking to reporters at the press club on Sunday, she said that due to the pressure of Brig Arshad Farooq the police was reluctant to register an FIR against former office-bearers of the association, who broke into Apwa office ten days back and occupied it.

She said that the army officer was son of the former provincial president, Hashmat Anwer, who was removed by Apwa National, Karachi. Ms Hashmat concealed the facts from journalists at a press conference, in which she levelled baseless allegation against the present administration, Ms Zari alleged.

She distributed copies of audit reports, conducted on orders of Apwa National pointing out a number of financial and administrative discrepancies during the tenure of Ms Hashmat and some bank accounts misused by her.

Ms Zari said that on the directives of Apwa National, she conducted elections of the executive committee on April 27, but later on May 16 declared them void as the voting members were found out to be employees not the general body members.

The defunct executive committee, she said, through its chairperson and vice-chairperson went to civil court against the dissolution but their plaint was dismissed by the civil judge, Kulsoom Azam. Another appeal was also dismissed by the additional district and sessions judge.

Ms Zari said that Ms Hashmat fraudulently filed another suit on the same grounds before the senior civil judge, without informing him about the previous suits, and managed to obtain a stay order. “They misused the order and broke into the office late at night on Sept 19. The court later vacated the stay order, but they are still occupying the office as the police is reluctant to dislodge them,” the former member of National Assembly claimed.