RAWALPINDI, Aug 18: The three-member mini-board of the Rawalpindi Cantonment has stopped working after refusal of the apex court to grant interim relief to the civic body against a decision of the Lahore High Court which restored the elected board.

Despite restoration of the 12-member full board, the cantonment authorities have not allowed the elected members to exercise powers and the status quo has been maintained.

“Since the case is sub judice, we have to maintain the status quo,” says the cantonment executive officer, Khawaja Iftikhar Mir. The requisition notice for the elected board meeting has also been disposed of by the RCB administration on the plea that the case is still lying before the Lahore High Court.

The contention, however, has been opposed by the elected members who say that it is incumbent on the RCB administration to convene a meeting of the full board after its restoration by the superior court.

It was on this basis that about a week ago the elected members had held a meeting in the private office of their vice-president Chaudhry Tanveer Ahmad Khan. But the cantonment officials say the meeting had no official importance.

On the other hand, RCB president Brig Hamid Khalil has vested all powers with himself after the suspension of the mini-board, which also had only nominal existence.

The vice- president of the varied board was only a figurehead while actual powers were in the hands of the brigadier, said an elected member.

The civic body has been totally rudderless these days. The authorities concerned have been scrambling in vain to avoid a full board meeting. After its dismissal by the Supreme Court, the case is now in the High Court to be heard at the principal seat in Lahore in the first week of September.

The administrative affairs of the cantonment are being run by the RCB president, Brig Hamid Khalil, according to article 25 of the Cantonment Act 1924. The elected members are of the view that the attitude of the cantonment authorities constituted contempt of court.

“Despite the High Court order, the RCB administration has not delegated powers to the full board,” said Haji Ijaz, adding that de jure powers were with them and the elected board would continue holding sessions on its own if not convened by the administration.