GUJRAT, Oct 17: The Lahore High Court on Friday restored the executive committee and office-bearers of the Gujrat Chamber of Commerce and Industry by setting aside the earlier orders of the commerce ministry’s director trade organisation of dissolving the body.

The DTO had also appointed an administrator to run the affairs of the Gujrat chamber. GTCCI President Sheikh Khawar Rafique had challenged the DTO’s orders by filing a writ petition in the LHC around two weeks ago, seeking suspension of the decision.

The petitioner said the allegations levelled in the notification issued by the DTO were not against the GTCCI’s dissolved body and, therefore, the ‘biased’ order should be dismissed.

Justice Syed Asghar Hyder heard the writ petition and ordered the reinstatement of all the office-bearers, including president Khawar Rafique, senior vice-president Abid Farooq and vice-president Sooban Zaheer Butt, besides all the members of the chamber’ executive committee.

The judge also suspended the notification of the appointment of the administrator and a five-member advisory committee comprising members of the GTCCI.

DTO Anjum Asad Amin had dissolved the GTCCI body and appointed the deputy director trading authority (Gujranwala), Irshad Ahmad, an administrator along with the five-member advisory committee through a notification of Sept 29 last following an inquiry into the Gujrat chamber’s affairs. The complaints were filed by Nadeem Sandhu.

The DTO had also dismissed Qamar Zaman Gill, a former GTCCI president, from the office the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry vice-president by declaring the seat null and void. He said Mr Gill had illegally occupied the office of the GTCCI’s president for the three consecutive years in violation of the trade laws and then got recommendation of its executive committee for the membership of the FPCCI.

With the LHC’s decision, Qamar Zaman Gill also stands reinstated to the office, though he didn’t move court.

GTCCI head Khawar Rafique told Dawn that the reinstated body would take fresh charge on Saturday (today). The judge directed the trade organisation director general to call a meeting of all stakeholders on Oct 21 and conduct an exhaustive probe into the chamber’ affairs.