jokingjustice
Registered Member
COMPLAINT, A NUMBER OR A FILE
September 26, 2026
Not a letter to Editor but through a two series long columns columnist Asif Masood has descried his story of long dismay and frusation as a longstanding Accountholder of the Allied Bank of Pakistan, Wah Branch. He described how he lodged his concerns and issues with the Bank’s top management when in return he learnt the Branch staff was all on right path but he himself wrong. His use of wording and text fascinated me reminding Ayaz Amir and late Ardshire Cowasje.
2. This old during his 80 years life has not read any other such a writing gust of which in effect is a complaint. This old copy pasted the article, enlarged fonts and printed 15 pages which in the shop could had cost Rs. 300/-. I could had enlarged it on my laptop but for this old “feel” of a book, print or of a newspaper has its own pleasure. I admire and pray for the writer taking courage from this generally today’s lethargic society having forgotten using civic obligation to protest on any injustice small or big.
3. The then Federal Ombudsman Mr. Justice Sardar Iqbal so far remaining unmatched for, more than once appreciated the spirit of this then middle aged in raising issues and criticizing his office. He repeatedly advised to remain in touch with his office which, according to the Ombudsman, gave him necessary feedback. S.M. Zafar more than five six time in writing, sometime through typed and sometime handwritten notes appreciated the spirit of untiringly fighting against injustices and once advised me why should not I establish an NGO rather than single handed working.
4. Time had changed, society had changed. When I made my second complaint against NBP, the then Federal Ombudsman in his final decision wrote that in case this complainant had to complain again on the same repeat issue, he would hold the President NBP personally responsible. As per our national habit, we established a separate Banking Mohtasib. When I made my second complaint against the same very NBP against the same very old issue, the Banking Mohtasib forwarding the complaint to the NBP in his covering note wrote “here is a complaint from one Muhammad Javed, a habitual complainant”. When the Banking Mohtasib had pre-hand made an ugly picture of mine what justice then he could had delivered. During these 13-15 years I have not even a single occasion when the Banking Mohtasib Office issued to me a formal Decision on my complaints as required in the Law, may be holding me filing a false complaint.
5. The columnist Asif Masood raises a very pertinent question that is a complaint for the top management just a number or a file? It is just a number since these banks have gone in the hands of so called “foreign investors”. Allied Bank though not belongs to any foreign investors yet its employees are themselves owners hence they are neither afraid of from their top nor its top can think of taking any action against “co-shareholders”. I quote an example. I filed complaint with President HBL. A complaint number was received. A year passed no progress. I was aware by experience this is a technique to let the heat automatically get killed. I approached the Banking Mohtasib against this fooling attitude of HBL in just providing a complaint number. As per law the Banking Mohtasib should had issued his Decision in sixty days on my this complaint. It is now five months not a single word has been received showing Mohtasib office and its executives can’t annoy the Banks (their parent departments) from where some are getting pensions, some’s family members working and some soon had to induct their children there.
6. The Banking Mohtasib’s natural justice can be judged from one example. UBL refused me locker operation on the plea three years rent was due whereas there was none. I had travelled from Bahrain to Pakistan only to operate locker to fetch certificates of my job seeking daughter. Not to waste time I paid then and there at the spot. Rather than operation, I was told I had surrendered my locker. I returned back Bahrain empty handed. Twenty days later my name was given in press as defaulter. The Banking Mohtasib never found truth in my calculation of rents paid but only that of Bank’s. The matter finished. The Banking Mohtasib never issued his Final Decision showing the office was above law. Years later when I had forgotten all this, came one fine morning an email from the new Manager of the Branch apologizing and informing he was refunding me over charged by his Branch. Who was God fearing and honest? Who deserved more to be on the justice delivering seat? The sitting Banking Mohtasib or the Manager?
7. It is well known a fact that Bank Branches are not situate exactly they are named. I have account since forty years with HBL Samanabad Branch Karachi. It was not located in Samanabad but in another area Ancholi. It has recently been shifted to North Karachi Industrial Area. The foreign investors for whom small scale accountholders like me are third rate creature, did not feel any need to give advance notice so accountholders could had option. There are two other HBL Branches just near me needing no public transport which I could had opted. North Karachi Industrial Area is totally a separate area at far distance from Samanabad not connected with any public transport. It is a dangerous area for mobile snatching. I repeatedly approached the Branch Manager to please help me know where this Branch actually was located. He damned cared. I approached President HBL he put my request on his foot. I approached the protector of citizens right called the Banking Mohtasib. Six months have passed not a single word from him – it is a show of respect for law an Ombudsman in our country has.
8. The Regulator SBP has created special cell for Overseas Pakistanis, Helpdesk, Focal Person etc. I humbly request columnist Asif Masood to take up the issue “lethargic attitude” of the ABL top with SBP. I assure him he would get no response. Then he may approach the Grievance Commissioner for Overseas Pakistanis against “non response” by the regulator.
9. Separately “what happened to him like biometrics, Certificate” on this issue he should, as a test and food for his columns, approach the Banking Mohtasib.
10. The columnist Asif Masood should rest assured that after approaching these two, the columnist will sure feel that he was a liar, a habitual complainant, filing false complaint against too efficent “yours most obedient staff” of the Bank.
11. While I appreciate the civic sense of the columnist, this old would fail his moral if he did not praise and congratulate the Editor and the policy staff of the Dailyurducolumns.com for their boldness, courage and consciousness in naming the Bank. Out media otherwise today has no such courage in identifying the Department concerned and edit to read “a bank”, “a mobile company” etc forgetting universally the newspapers are taken as People’s Ombudsmen. Just a few minutes back I listened for a few minutes a v-log from a “lion” v-logger telling how a Federal Minister had bought a Mayfair flat in London. He repeatedly said “a federal minister, a federal minister” but the “lion” had no courage to name.
12. This old would fail if he also does not acknowledge the morality of a lone senior adviser in the Banking Mohtasib Office Mr. Muhammad Ali Jangda who following his conscious, against the practice and policy of his office, do response summarily to every communication though can’t do more to act on the written Law Establishing the Ombudsman.
13. Taste of the pudding is in eating Mr. Asif Masood. This old pray do this exercise which will give you enough material to write some more three four columns. This old prays ALLAH for late Hafeez ur Rehman, ex DG PR Punjab who every month wrote one eye opener column, and very interesting, about the Ombudsman in DAWN and The News.
POST SCRIPT NOTE
While I had finished it, just for date of column when I visited the site I could not find both columns. I found these had disappeared. It was strange. In my long experience such a thing happens if complainant is unable to bear pressure or the website is forced to delete. In this case it is the columnist whose grievance since resolved hence he withdrew. Wonderful! I am puzzled if I acted in haste praising the public spirit of the writer? This old in life faced many pressures and even threats living abroad like the columnist is an Overseas Pakistanis. Once I was summoned somewhere, in a polite style manner advised not to make any complaint again. My service discipline required “Yes sir” and I did. Same evening I faxed Nasim Hassan Shah the then Chief Justice of Pakistan saying my mouth was being closed for raising a complaint. Next morning some Pakistani elders in Bahrain were contacting me to forget. I am still there whenever any injustice I do cry not to surrender myself. Writers, columnists and intellectuals have some responsibility towards the down trodden and society generally. If finding courage they cry and protest on, say closure of electricity, it does not suit they sleep in comfort if their home is restored while rest of the area keep suffering. Such can be expected from ordinary like me not from high profile writers, columnists, intellectuals and public figures.
September 26, 2026
Not a letter to Editor but through a two series long columns columnist Asif Masood has descried his story of long dismay and frusation as a longstanding Accountholder of the Allied Bank of Pakistan, Wah Branch. He described how he lodged his concerns and issues with the Bank’s top management when in return he learnt the Branch staff was all on right path but he himself wrong. His use of wording and text fascinated me reminding Ayaz Amir and late Ardshire Cowasje.
2. This old during his 80 years life has not read any other such a writing gust of which in effect is a complaint. This old copy pasted the article, enlarged fonts and printed 15 pages which in the shop could had cost Rs. 300/-. I could had enlarged it on my laptop but for this old “feel” of a book, print or of a newspaper has its own pleasure. I admire and pray for the writer taking courage from this generally today’s lethargic society having forgotten using civic obligation to protest on any injustice small or big.
3. The then Federal Ombudsman Mr. Justice Sardar Iqbal so far remaining unmatched for, more than once appreciated the spirit of this then middle aged in raising issues and criticizing his office. He repeatedly advised to remain in touch with his office which, according to the Ombudsman, gave him necessary feedback. S.M. Zafar more than five six time in writing, sometime through typed and sometime handwritten notes appreciated the spirit of untiringly fighting against injustices and once advised me why should not I establish an NGO rather than single handed working.
4. Time had changed, society had changed. When I made my second complaint against NBP, the then Federal Ombudsman in his final decision wrote that in case this complainant had to complain again on the same repeat issue, he would hold the President NBP personally responsible. As per our national habit, we established a separate Banking Mohtasib. When I made my second complaint against the same very NBP against the same very old issue, the Banking Mohtasib forwarding the complaint to the NBP in his covering note wrote “here is a complaint from one Muhammad Javed, a habitual complainant”. When the Banking Mohtasib had pre-hand made an ugly picture of mine what justice then he could had delivered. During these 13-15 years I have not even a single occasion when the Banking Mohtasib Office issued to me a formal Decision on my complaints as required in the Law, may be holding me filing a false complaint.
5. The columnist Asif Masood raises a very pertinent question that is a complaint for the top management just a number or a file? It is just a number since these banks have gone in the hands of so called “foreign investors”. Allied Bank though not belongs to any foreign investors yet its employees are themselves owners hence they are neither afraid of from their top nor its top can think of taking any action against “co-shareholders”. I quote an example. I filed complaint with President HBL. A complaint number was received. A year passed no progress. I was aware by experience this is a technique to let the heat automatically get killed. I approached the Banking Mohtasib against this fooling attitude of HBL in just providing a complaint number. As per law the Banking Mohtasib should had issued his Decision in sixty days on my this complaint. It is now five months not a single word has been received showing Mohtasib office and its executives can’t annoy the Banks (their parent departments) from where some are getting pensions, some’s family members working and some soon had to induct their children there.
6. The Banking Mohtasib’s natural justice can be judged from one example. UBL refused me locker operation on the plea three years rent was due whereas there was none. I had travelled from Bahrain to Pakistan only to operate locker to fetch certificates of my job seeking daughter. Not to waste time I paid then and there at the spot. Rather than operation, I was told I had surrendered my locker. I returned back Bahrain empty handed. Twenty days later my name was given in press as defaulter. The Banking Mohtasib never found truth in my calculation of rents paid but only that of Bank’s. The matter finished. The Banking Mohtasib never issued his Final Decision showing the office was above law. Years later when I had forgotten all this, came one fine morning an email from the new Manager of the Branch apologizing and informing he was refunding me over charged by his Branch. Who was God fearing and honest? Who deserved more to be on the justice delivering seat? The sitting Banking Mohtasib or the Manager?
7. It is well known a fact that Bank Branches are not situate exactly they are named. I have account since forty years with HBL Samanabad Branch Karachi. It was not located in Samanabad but in another area Ancholi. It has recently been shifted to North Karachi Industrial Area. The foreign investors for whom small scale accountholders like me are third rate creature, did not feel any need to give advance notice so accountholders could had option. There are two other HBL Branches just near me needing no public transport which I could had opted. North Karachi Industrial Area is totally a separate area at far distance from Samanabad not connected with any public transport. It is a dangerous area for mobile snatching. I repeatedly approached the Branch Manager to please help me know where this Branch actually was located. He damned cared. I approached President HBL he put my request on his foot. I approached the protector of citizens right called the Banking Mohtasib. Six months have passed not a single word from him – it is a show of respect for law an Ombudsman in our country has.
8. The Regulator SBP has created special cell for Overseas Pakistanis, Helpdesk, Focal Person etc. I humbly request columnist Asif Masood to take up the issue “lethargic attitude” of the ABL top with SBP. I assure him he would get no response. Then he may approach the Grievance Commissioner for Overseas Pakistanis against “non response” by the regulator.
9. Separately “what happened to him like biometrics, Certificate” on this issue he should, as a test and food for his columns, approach the Banking Mohtasib.
10. The columnist Asif Masood should rest assured that after approaching these two, the columnist will sure feel that he was a liar, a habitual complainant, filing false complaint against too efficent “yours most obedient staff” of the Bank.
11. While I appreciate the civic sense of the columnist, this old would fail his moral if he did not praise and congratulate the Editor and the policy staff of the Dailyurducolumns.com for their boldness, courage and consciousness in naming the Bank. Out media otherwise today has no such courage in identifying the Department concerned and edit to read “a bank”, “a mobile company” etc forgetting universally the newspapers are taken as People’s Ombudsmen. Just a few minutes back I listened for a few minutes a v-log from a “lion” v-logger telling how a Federal Minister had bought a Mayfair flat in London. He repeatedly said “a federal minister, a federal minister” but the “lion” had no courage to name.
12. This old would fail if he also does not acknowledge the morality of a lone senior adviser in the Banking Mohtasib Office Mr. Muhammad Ali Jangda who following his conscious, against the practice and policy of his office, do response summarily to every communication though can’t do more to act on the written Law Establishing the Ombudsman.
13. Taste of the pudding is in eating Mr. Asif Masood. This old pray do this exercise which will give you enough material to write some more three four columns. This old prays ALLAH for late Hafeez ur Rehman, ex DG PR Punjab who every month wrote one eye opener column, and very interesting, about the Ombudsman in DAWN and The News.
POST SCRIPT NOTE
While I had finished it, just for date of column when I visited the site I could not find both columns. I found these had disappeared. It was strange. In my long experience such a thing happens if complainant is unable to bear pressure or the website is forced to delete. In this case it is the columnist whose grievance since resolved hence he withdrew. Wonderful! I am puzzled if I acted in haste praising the public spirit of the writer? This old in life faced many pressures and even threats living abroad like the columnist is an Overseas Pakistanis. Once I was summoned somewhere, in a polite style manner advised not to make any complaint again. My service discipline required “Yes sir” and I did. Same evening I faxed Nasim Hassan Shah the then Chief Justice of Pakistan saying my mouth was being closed for raising a complaint. Next morning some Pakistani elders in Bahrain were contacting me to forget. I am still there whenever any injustice I do cry not to surrender myself. Writers, columnists and intellectuals have some responsibility towards the down trodden and society generally. If finding courage they cry and protest on, say closure of electricity, it does not suit they sleep in comfort if their home is restored while rest of the area keep suffering. Such can be expected from ordinary like me not from high profile writers, columnists, intellectuals and public figures.
