Legal Dictionary of Pakistan

oppression.

1. The act or an instance of unjustly exercising authority or power. 2. An offense consisting in the abuse of discretionary authority by a public officer who has an improper motive, as a result of which a person is injured. This offense does not include extortion, which is typically a more serious crime. 3. Contracts. Coercion to enter into an illegal contract. Oppression is grounds for the recovery of money paid or property transferred under an illegal contract. See DURESS; UNCONSCIONABILITY. 4. Corporations. Unfair treatment of minority shareholders (esp. in a close corporation) by the directors or those in control of the corporation. See FREEZE-OUT. - Also termed (in sense 4) shareholder oppression. - oppress, vb. - oppressive, adj.