ISLAMABAD: A legal dispute involving the freezing of properties linked to the Banking Society in Islamabad has taken a significant turn as a court has issued arrest warrants for the Islamabad Deputy Commissioner (DC) Irfan Nawaz Memon.
The warrants were issued after a revenue officer failed to appear in court despite being informed of a prior order concerning property seizures tied to a banking society case.
The court’s move follows the failure to implement a directive from a September 30, 2024, order that instructed the freezing of properties associated with the Bankers Society, located in Islamabad, Rawalpindi, and Haripur. The matter had initially been taken up in the court in September 2024, when it was ordered that these properties be frozen, pending the investigation.
On March 26, 2025, the court issued additional directives to the Deputy Commissioners (DCs) of Islamabad, Rawalpindi, and Haripur, formally granting them the authority to act as receivers of the identified properties. These formal orders were sent to the DCs of Islamabad, Rawalpindi, and Haripur, instructing them to take control of the assets located in their respective jurisdictions.
However, the issue arose when, during a June 2025 court hearing, the revenue officer responsible for handling the Islamabad portion of the case did not attend the proceedings, citing illness as the reason for the absence. The court was officially informed of the officer’s health condition and his inability to attend.
Despite the explanation, the court reacted by issuing arrest warrants for the DC of Islamabad, holding the office accountable for the revenue officer’s failure to attend the hearing.
Sources close to the matter indicated that in revenue-related matters, the Islamabad DC holds the same administrative rank as the Commissioners of Rawalpindi and Hazara divisions. In Rawalpindi and Haripur, the court’s orders had been directly addressed to the respective DCs, and they had taken action accordingly.
However, in Islamabad, the responsibility for implementing these orders rested with the concerned Collector Revenue, not necessarily the DC himself, even though the DC holds overall administrative responsibility.
The sources further explained that the court’s issuance of arrest warrants for the DC of Islamabad signifies its serious concern regarding the delay in implementing the orders. The court has scheduled a follow-up hearing, during which a Naib Tehsildar (sub-divisional revenue officer) is expected to submit a report detailing the progress on implementing the property freezing orders and any steps taken to assign control of the properties to government officials.
The court’s decision to escalate the matter by issuing arrest warrants reflects its frustration with the continued delay in enforcing the orders and signals a serious intent to hold authorities accountable for non-compliance. Further action is expected after the court reviews the Naib Tehsildar’s report during the upcoming hearing.
