PESHAWAR, Dec 3: The Workers Welfare Board (WWB) on Tuesday challenged the Nov 29 sealing of its offices and seizure of record by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa AntiCorruption Establishment (ACE) before the Peshawar High Court, saying it`s a federal entity and the provincial government has no authority to take such action against it.

Recently, the ACE officials led by Director Fayyaz Ali Shah raided the WWB premises on Shami Road on the orders of the provincial chief secretary over the alleged wrongdoings.

In a petition filed through lawyer Arshad Ali, the WWB prayed the court to declare the said ACE action illegal and without lawful authority and direct the ACE to act in accordance with the law and de-seal WWB offices forthwith and give all seized record back.

It also sought interim relief on the matter requesting that the provincial government and ACE be directed to deseal the WWB premises and restrain from interfering in the WWB affairs until the final disposal of the case.

The WWB said it was established through the Workers Welfare Fund (WWB) Ordinance 1971; its entire management vested in the governing body, and it had several functions related to the welfare of industrial labour.

It said the ACE was established through Section 3 of the West Pakistan AntiCorruption Establishment Ordinance, 1961 by the provincial government.

The WWB said the jurisdiction of the ACE was to initiate inquiries and investigations in respect of its offences related to only the departments established by the provincial government.