KARACHI, Oct 22: Adviser to the Chief Minister on Fisheries and Livestock Faqir Mohammad Jadam Mangrio on Monday took charge as the Administrator of the Fishermen Cooperative Society amid apprehension and reservations expressed by stakeholders in the fisheries sector.

The elected directors have already decided to move court against the appointment of Mr Mangrio, a government nominee, as FCS administrator believing that the move would deepen the persisting administrative crisis and could lead to a confrontation between the elected directors of the Society and the provincial government.

Mr Mangrio was made FCS administrator through an office order issued by the FCS manager administration on Oct 8 in pursuance of the directives of the Registrar Cooperative Societies.

Senior directors of the Society, however, termed the order “illegal and in total violation of the FCS bylaws,” pointing out that the bylaws provided for no such administrator for the Society while a board of directors was already there.

Under the bylaws, the chief executive of the Society serves as “chairman” who is elected by a 15-member board of directors.

“Unless the board is dissolved on some specific charges duly notified and brought to the notice of the directors, appointment of an administrator cannot be made,” a senior director argued. Soon after taking charge of his office, the administrator called a meeting of the Society’s departmental heads. Directing all officials to perform their duties diligently, he warned them against indulging in corrupt practices. He also constituted two committees to run the day-to-day affairs of the Society.

Mr Mangrio said he intended to get a shed raised at the market jetty for fishermen.

The administrative crisis had hit the FCS in 2003-2004 with the departure of the navy personnel who had taken over the harbour for a brief period and ran its affairs in a disciplined manner. However, the provincial government failed to manage the affairs of the harbour and the Society after the navy personnel were withdrawn.

The elected directors of the Society have accused the provincial government of directly interfering in the affairs of the FCS and imposing its policies aimed at achieving political objectives. They also oppose nomination of directors and chairman by the government on political grounds. They are of the view that the crisis would end only when the nominated and elected directors are allowed to elect a new FCS chairman in a free and fair manner.