Amendments: DG trade organisations stripped of powers

Hyderabad Chamber passes unanimous resolutions.

HYDERABAD:

Hyderabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (HCCI) has instituted amendments in its Articles of Association, according to which the Director General of Trade Organisations of the federal commerce ministry has been stripped of his powers.

The decision was taken through resolutions passed by a majority vote at a general body meeting of HCCI members here on Sunday night. More than 2,000 members, according to an HCCI spokesman, attended the meeting.

Under Section 14 of the Trade Organisations Ordinance 2007, promulgated by former president Pervez Musharraf, the director-general, appointed by the federal government, is empowered to conduct inquiry, inspection, supervision and act as an appellate forum for a registered trade organisation.

He can annul election results of a trade organisation and can cancel or modify a decision or resolution passed by a general body or executive committee of a trade organisation.

“The director general’s authority to hear appeals of the members has also been transferred to the appellate commission of HCCI which will include its senior members,” HCCI President Goharullah said.

The resolutions passed by the meeting allow doubling the terms of office of elected representatives of HCCI and restoring the position of senior vice president which was abolished after promulgation of the ordinance in 2007.

They also approved removal of the name of director-general from the constitution. Members from corporate, associate and ordinary members’ class will be eligible to take part in the elections for any seat of office-bearers, including president.

However, a group of HCCI members, led by its former president Azizuddin Arain, questioned the legal authority of the chamber to amend its laws without approval of the federal government. “According to Section 12 of the ordinance, a registered trade organisation shall not rescind, amend or otherwise modify its articles or memorandum without prior approval of the federal government,” Arain said. He described the HCCI move as an act to cover vote rigging.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 26^th,  2011.