ISLAMABAD, Nov 10: The Lahore High Court, Rawalpindi bench, on Monday observed that the FIA had no authority to look into the affairs of the cooperative societies operating in Islamabad.

Admitting a writ petition filed by the Islamabad Cooperative Housing Society, Justice Mansoor Ahmad said the only authority empowered to look into the affairs of the societies was the registrar cooperative societies department, Islamabad.

The court directed the registrar cooperative societies department to report within 15 days about the defreezing of society funds which were lying in the bank.

The petitioner has challenged the authority of the FIA to probe into the affairs of the cooperative societies.

Representing the petitioner, Advocate Ahmad Raza Khan Kasuri contended that the FIA was not authorized to investigate into the affairs which were enumerated in a schedule made under section 3 of the FIA Act 1974.

There were sixteen modes of offences, including Passport Act, Prevention of Corruption Act, etc., but nowhere offences relating to the Cooperative Societies Act 1925 were mentioned in this section of the FIA Act.

The registrar could proceed on the basis of a complaint made by either majority of management committee or one-third of the members of the general body, he added.

The counsel stated that there had been no complaint by any member of society, adding that the interference of the FIA in the affairs of the societies had shaken the trust of investors in the country.