President orders Banking Mohtasib to settle complaint

ISLAMABAD: President Dr Arif Alvi on Sunday set aside a decision of the Banking Mohtasib over dealing with the complaint of an account holder "in an arbitrary manner" and directed to address his grievance in accordance with law. The president asked the Banking Mohtasib to "process and inquire" the complaint of the account holder after affording him a due opportunity of hearing.

The complainant Shaheen-ur-Rehman, a government employee, had filed a representation with the President of Pakistan against the review order of the Banking Mohtasib wherein he was not rendered any relief to his grievance against a bank.The complainant had approached the Banking Mohtasib alleging maladministration on part of Habib Bank Limited Vehari Bazar Branch, Burewala, which declared his bank account as "non-remunerative", thus causing him a monetary loss.

The complainant in his request mentioned that he had opened a new bank account for the purpose of depositing profit on the principal amount, in addition to his earlier Profit & Loss Sharing account meant for salary and pension only.

However after one year, when he approached the Bank to receive the accrued profit, his account was declared as Current Account (Basic Banking Account). On getting no relief despite several complaints lodged with the bank followed by a petition with the Banking Mohtasib, the complainant made a plea to the President of Pakistan.