ISLAMABAD, Aug 31: Senate standing committee on interior has decided to defreeze the accounts of National Assembly Secretariat Employees Cooperative Housing Society to benefit its members who had invested their money in the society.

The decision was taken in a meeting of the committee headed by its chairman Senator Ayaz Khan Mandokhel on Tuesday. The meeting formed a sub-committee to probe into the circumstance under which a ban had been imposed on the elected body of the society.

The sub-committee would also suggest ways and means so that the society could stand on its feet and complete the development of the acquired area. The five-member sub-committee consisted of senators Dr Shahzad Waseem, Rehmatullah Kakar, Tahira Latif, Gulshan Saeed and Sardar Mahtab Ahmed Khan.

Secretary Interior Tariq Mehmood, Deputy Commissioner Tariq Pirzada and other officials also attended the meeting. The meeting was convened on a resolution moved by Senator Mohammad Ibrahim Khan in the house to discuss the situation arising out of the ban imposed on the society. Later, the matter was referred to the committee by the upper house.

The interior secretary told the committee that the action taken against the society was an interim arrangement meant to put the house in order and to protect the interests of the employees.

The deputy commissioner briefed the committee on the affairs of the society and steps taken by the administrator/circle registrar to secure the rights and interests of the members of the society.

The committee was informed that the society owed nearly 576 kanals of land and that the ban was imposed on receipt of a complaint from ten members of the society who had alleged embezzlement by the managing committee.