KARACHI, March 31: The Sindh High Court asked the provincial government on Thursday to deal with a club registered under the Societies Registration Act in accordance with the provisions of the law.

A writ petition was moved by Birch Club against cancellation of its licence by the Sindh directorate of industries (registration wing). The petitioner submitted through Advocate Junaid Farooqui that it was registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860, and was run by an elected managing committee in accordance with its memorandum and bye-laws. It had a valid and subsisting certificate of registration and a licence issued by the competent authority. It had its premises at Ghas Mandi, Jinnahabad and Eidgah.

The club alleged that it had been victimized for not extending membership to police officials. The membership was refused because it had limited facilities for indoor games, like snooker, skittles and carom for its members and their families.

Earlier, false cases were registered against its members, who were acquitted by courts. A case under the Gambling Ordinance was registered subsequently and an order purporting to cancel its licence issued to close it for good.

Contesting the petition, Additional Advocate-General M. Ahmed Pirzada said the club was registered as a welfare society and the action against it was taken on several complaints made by the residents of Ghas Mandi, Eidgah. Relying on Section 21 of the General Clauses Act, he said an authority empowered to issue a licence also had the power to cancel it.

A division bench, comprising Justices Ataur Rahman and Zia Pervez suspended its order for a week.