KARACHI: Muhammad Arif Khan a journalist and Council member of Karachi Press Club since 1995 has appealed on 16-12-2024 to the General Council of the Club to set-aside the impugned Order of Secretary and direct to admit the Appellant as Council member of the Karachi Press Club under Article 9, Rule 12 of the Articles of Association (1959).

Muhammad Arif Khan has been active member of the Club and twice served as elected Joint Secretary during 2012 & 2013 and remained President of Karachi Union of Journalists (Dastoor) in 2009 and 2010. On 1st September 2024, the Appellant as usual visited the Club when he was orally informed at reception that the Governing Body of the Club had passed an order terminating his membership and he was stopped from entering and enjoying the facilities as the membership cease to exist. Earlier, on 15th May 2024, Shoaib Ahmed Secretary Karachi Press Club had delivered a show cause notice to the Appellant that called for an explanation within three days regarding a news clip allegedly circulated by the plaintiff in the Press Club members’ WhatsApp group concerning alleged corruption in construction of Athar Ali Hashmi Terrace of the Club. The Appellant responded to the Show Cause notice.  After serving reply to the Secretary there was total silence on the part of the defendant, in the intervening period the Appellant used to visit and enjoy the facilities of the Respondent. Arif Khan requested for copy of the alleged order which had not been communicated to him as required under Article 9, Rule 12 of the Article of Association. He sought the order to file an appeal before the General Council.

The Secretary failed to provide the alleged order. On 2nd September 2024 the Appellant immediately served notice through registered posts and courier service to the Defendant. On 21st September 2024, he again sent a reminder to the Secretary through courier service which duly served on 23-9-2023. However, Secretary did not provided the order prompting the filing of a law suit in the Civil Court.  He suffered mental torture and agony as the alleged Order passed without affording personal hearing to him, an illegal act of the Secretary Prima facie appeared to be political victimization as the Appellant belongs to the opposition group of the Secretary, the Appellant said in his petition to the Court. The Respondent has passed the impugned Order hastily, illegally and unlawfully, in result of the findings of the Respondent as challenged in Appeal, Justice has been miscarried. The Appellant craves leave to urge some further grounds at the time of final hearing with permission of this General Council. The appeal is in time order received from the court of VI Civil Judge South Karachi in Suit No. 1307/2024 filed in Court vide statement at bar dated 27.11.2024, the Appellant added.