ISLAMABAD: The Secretariat police have registered a case against two Pakistanis on the charge of misappropriating the property of a school owned by the Consulate General of Pakistan in Dubai.

The H.H. Sheikh Rashid Al Makhtoum School was established by the Pakistan consulate in 1995 to provide education to the poor section of the Pakistani community living in Dubai. In 2007, in order to bring the school in conformity with the laws of the UAE, 49pc shares reserved for expatriates under the Limited Liability Company Act 2006 of UAE were transferred to the two Pakistani nationals by the then consul general of Pakistan.

But there was no proper undertaking made at that time due to the apparent negligence of the then consulate general, said an official of the Islamabad police, who requested anonymity. As a result, the two shareholders took over the control of the school along with all its affairs, including financial.

The Secretariat police registered a case against the two men on the complaint of Mohammad Salim, Deputy Legal Adviser Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The FIR stated that in the year 2007 as many as 24pc shares of the school were transferred in the name of Mohammad Haris Shah and 25pc in the name of Umer Daraz without consideration by way of a trust to be discharged in accordance with the directives of the then consul general acting on behalf of the consulate general of Pakistan.

The undertaking signed by both Haris Shah and Umar Daraz declared their status as agent and nominee shareholders on behalf of the consulate general. The FIR said despite fully knowing that the school belonged to the consulate general of Pakistan and that they were entrusted the property for a limited purpose, the two men in volition of the trust reposed in them and against the directives of the consul general appointed Akhtar Waqas Khattak as the principal of the school and nominated a new board of governor for the institute, thereby dishonestly diverting the property under their own use.

“Furthermore, they are guilty of dishonestly usurping the property belonging to the consulate general for Pakistan. In the circumstances they are guilty of misappropriating the property of the consulate general for Pakistan and dishonestly usurping the property of the school, depriving the people of Pakistan of their valuable assets.”

The FIR said the accused committed the offence of a criminal breach of trust and cheating which was punishable under the Pakistan Penal Code.

Published in Dawn, July 29th, 2017