PESHAWAR, Oct 13: A civil court has handed over the possession of the All Pakistan Women’s Association’s regional office here to the Apwa, national (Karachi), and declared its occupation by the former office-bearers illegal.

A bailiff of the senior civil judge’s court accompanied police to the office in the cantonment area and handed over the possession to a representative of Apwa, national, Dr Afaq, three days back.

The possession of the office had been taken over by former office-bearers of Apwa, NWFP, claiming that their organization was an independent body and it had nothing to do with Apwa National.

The elections of Apwa, NWFP, were held under the  supervision of former National Assembly member Zari Sarfaraz on the directives of Apwa, national, on April 27.

However, the national body declared the elections null and void on May 16 on the ground that the voting members were found out to be employees of Apwa and not its general body members.

The central body also conducted audit of the association of the last five years. The audit report pointed out various financial and administrative discrepancies in the affairs of Apwa, NWFP, and the Darul Aman run by it.

The former office-bearers, including ex-president, Begum Hashmat  Anwer, filed a suit in the court of a civil judge, Kulsoom Azam, which was dismissed.

The court observed that Apwa, NWFP, was a regional body affiliated with All Pakistan Women’s Association, national.

The office-bearers  filed an appeal before the court of additional district and sessions judge, which was dismissed.

They filed another suit before Senior Civil Judge Shahid Khan, praying that All Pakistan Women’s Association, NWFP, should be declared an independent body.

The former office-bearers took over possession of the office on Sept 19, stating that the court had given a stay order in their favour. The court dismissed their suit.

An application was filed before the same court by Apwa, national, requesting  it to hand over possession of the office to them.

The court accepted the application and directed its bailiff to give them possession with the help of police.