KARACHI, June 14: A number of NGOs and elected directors of the Fishermen the Cooperative Society have criticized the decision of the Provincial Registrar Cooperative Societies regarding postponement of the Society’s board of directors meeting convened by the secretary on June 12 in pursuance of a high court order.

Haji Mohammad Yunis, a spokesman for the elected directors, termed the decision illegal, and said it was a violation of the court order. He said he would again approach the court in this regard.

He said it was also intriguing to note that the meeting had been postponed on verbal orders of the registrar and that too just five minutes before the commencement of the meeting.

He accused a coalition partner of the Sindh government of directly interfering into the affairs of the FCS and trying to impose its policies on fishermen.

He said the crucial meeting of the board had been postponed at its behest for the fourth time because “they want to impose their self–styled political leadership which is not acceptable to the fishermen community.”

The FCS directors said they would not accept appointment of any politician to the most prestigious slot of the FCS chairman.

Haji Yunis, in a communication sent to higher authorities, said he was being issued physical threats by certain elements for not supporting the candidate of the ruling coalition, and reminded that the society had been financially crippled whenever a political figure was installed as its chairman.

Meanwhile, several NGOs representing the fishermen communities have expressed concern over the postponement of the meeting, and said the formation of the board had been completed after the Aug 4 elections, and there was no justification of further delaying the meeting of the board.