APCMA headquarters raided, output data recovered

The Competition Commission of Pakistan raided the headquarters of All Pakistan Cement Manufacturers Association (APCMA), Lahore and recovered valuable record including computers, giving accurate data on cement production.
Sources in the industry told Business Recorder on Thursday that it was a surprise raid as nobody was expecting that the officials of the Competition Commission would exercise powers under Competition Ordinance 2007 for recovery of record. The association has called an emergency meeting of all leading cement manufactures at Lahore to deal with the situation. The owners of cement units across the country are rushing Lahore to resolve the issue amicably.
Details of the incidence revealed that a team of 6-7 officials of the Competition Commission without support of police or law enforcement agencies reached association''s office located in Gulburg. The reason behind this raid was to recover necessary documents to verify whether the cement manufacturers have formed a cartel resulting in price hike of cement. Secondly, the team wanted some accurate and latest information, which was not being provided by manufacturers.
The special team of the commission was equipped with all necessary documents including post entry search warrant etc. However, the secretary of the association showed his reluctance to permit team for entry and examination of record available with the association. He also refused to allow the team to enter into its premises.
To evade the commission men, the association switched of lights for about three hours. With the passage of time, things got more tense and hot words were exchange between the two sides. During the whole episode, the association managed to take away some important record and ran away.
The special team continued to pursue the association to permit them for searching the premises for recovery of record. The team members also threatened the association that strict action including imprisonment and heavy penalty would be imposed on non-compliance by the association.
Later, the team entered into the premises of cement manufacturers association and recovered some computers and other records from the office of the association. The whole exercise took over six long hours which appeared to be first raid of its kind being conducted by the Competition Commission of Pakistan.