KARACHI: Even after more than twelve weeks, the elections of Karimabad Ismailia Multi-Purpose Cooperative Society Limited are still delayed, leaving the society’s important administrative work in the hands of unelected individuals.

The long-delayed elections were finally held on May 7, 2023, after a gap of seven years. The United Panel won by a big margin, but despite this victory, all plans failed under the leadership of the new committee’s secretary, Imran Arman. The promises made to the members remained only on paper, and even after more than two years, no practical work has been done.

The society’s secretary sold houses worth millions of rupees by creating fake files, and the owners were given fake allotment papers and memberships. Even today, NAB has placed a ban on the sale, transfer, and change of title of these properties. All these illegal activities were carried out with the cooperation of the Cooperative Society Department.

Members say that despite repeated requests, the management has neither presented the audit report nor provided the financial records. Because of this, there is no transparency in the society.

Registrar appointed Rabia Khan, Assistant Registrar Cooperative Societies-II, as the election officer for Karimabad Society. She was also instructed to oversee and conduct the 2025 elections for the president and all members of the managing committee in a transparent manner, but she seems unable to hold the elections. One reason for the delay is that the society’s mafia is making changes to the voter list and trying to mislead the election officer.

On the other hand, the notorious Mahmood Damani is trying to take over the society again. Similar attempts have been made before, when on July 11, 2019, the Registrar superseded the society and Sajid Abdul Karim Soryo took charge as the administrator. Mahmood Damani formed an illegal committee through people who misled the Registrar and continued trying to control the society’s affairs. At that time, to delay the elections, he changed the members’ list and added his name to it, and attempts were made to hold the elections in closed rooms.

The society’s members requested the election officer to hold elections. However, due to the absence of the elected board and the lack of transparency in important administrative decisions, the society is seen as violating democratic and cooperative principles.

Elections have not been held, so accountability has ended and important work in the society has stopped. The members have demanded that the Registrar of Cooperatives Sindh correct the voter list and start the election process in a transparent manner so that the society’s affairs can return to normal.