PESHAWAR, Oct 17: A two-member bench of the Peshawar High Court summoned on Thursday an official of the Governor Inspection Team, Inamullah Qureshi, asking him to clarify his position about sealing the office of a non-governmental organisation.

The bench, comprising Justice Nasirul Mulk and Justice Abdur Rauf Lughmani, also directed him to furnish a reply to the writ petition filed by the chairman of the Rise, Prof Ismael, and other office-bearers.

The bench inquired from the state’s counsel under what authority the office of an organisation registered under the Societies Act, 1860, be sealed by the inspection team. Moreover, the bench inquired whether before conducting an inquiry that office could be sealed.

The state’s counsel claimed that the organisation was involved in misappropriation of funds due to which the inspection team had to take that step.

Advocates Abdul Lateef Afridi and Fazal Ilahi Khan appeared for the petitioner and argued that the organisation was registered under the Societies Act, 1860, and action could only be taken against it under that act. Afridi pointed out that there was a procedure laid down in the act and the government could not deviate from that procedure.

He argued that even if the organisation was involved in corruption the inspection team had no authority to seal the offices and occupy all its properties, including vehicle and furniture before conducting an inquiry. He also referred to the case of Aurat Association of Mansehra, in which the high court had given conditionalities which had to be fulfilled before winding up any of the NGOs.

The petitioner has pointed out that the organisation was charged of embezzling an amount of Rs1.0919 million of the Family Health Project and Social Action Programme, whereas, in fact, the entire project was of Rs904,350 and the organisation never received any fund in the Social Action Programme (SAP).