KARACHI, Dec 1: Justice Musheer Alam of the Sindh High Court on Monday directed all parties to controversy of chairmanship of All Pakistan Textile Mills Association to maintain status quo till Dec 15, next date of hearing.

The bench was hearing a miscellaneous application filed by Waqar Monnoo, chairman of Aptma. Earlier Abid Zuberi advocate appearing for the petitioner submitted that respondents, including Shahid Anwar Tata, are sending e-mails, circulars, hand bills to the members of Aptma to influence them.

He also prayed to the court to restrain respondents, including Shahid Anwar Tata, Dewan Ayub and Usman Shaikh, from assuming the functions of the chairman, exercising powers, passing any resolution and expelling him (petitioner) from the office of Aptma chairman.

The court was also prayed to stop implementation of resolution passed on Nov 17, 2003 at a meeting presided by Shahid Anwar Tata and also from holding elections.

The bench after hearing the sides ordered: “Under the circumstances it is directed that all parties shall maintain status quo and will not indulge in any activity, including e-mails, fax, hand bills so as to prejudice or influence any of the member of the Governing Body and Central Managing Committee (CMC) of Aptma.”

The bench further ordered that CMC-elect of Aptma shall continue to perform day-to-day affairs and functions in terms of the Memorandum and Articles of Association.

The bench then put off further hearing till Dec 15, ordering that an interim order passed earlier by the court will continue till next date of hearing.

The petitioner challenged the legality of a resolution passed by the Managing Committee of Aptma to unseat him from the office of the chairman.—APP