THE Lucknow Cooperative Housing Society in Karachi`s Korangi area has been under government control since March 2023, and the Sindh Cooperative Department has so far appointed 10 administrators. Since the society`s bank accountshave beenfrozen,therefore all the administrators have been collecting dues in cash from the members. They are also allegedly involved in illegal activities.
An application was filed with the Sindh Cooperative Department on Sept 19, 2024, under the Right to Information clauses, requesting the financial and administrative details of all the 10 administrators. This was never done, and the Sindh Information Commission was subsequently approached.
The first hearing was held on Jan 20 this year, but due to the non-appearance of the respondents, the hearing had to be rescheduled. Since then, the department`s Designated Official has appeared in the hearings, but he is naturally unable to say anything that may affect his seniors. All that the department has produced during the hearingsis afour-page reportthat does not addresstheissuein question.
It seems that the lawmakers have left a loophole in the legislation. Section15 of the Sindh Transparency and Right to Information Act, 2016 needs to be amended. The responsibility being shouldered by the Designated Official must be shifted to the department head.
