Speaking to the media, Founder Group chief Rana Zafar Ahmad Khan said the director general trade organisations (DTO), which is associated with the Ministry of Commerce, had promised that elections would be held on the basis of bona fide members of the chamber.
However, he alleged that despite an undertaking before the Lahore High Court, where a case was pending regarding bogus members of the FCCI, the National Group – the ruling party – was trying to keep its monopoly over the affairs of the chamber and “hold elections on the basis of forged and bogus memberships.”
“In this backdrop, we have been left with no option but to boycott the elections. If the elections are held on the basis of genuine members under DTO supervision, we will participate,” he said.
Since 2010, FCCI elections have been a cause of dispute between the two groups. According to court orders, day-to-day affairs of the chamber are being run by a director appointed by the commerce ministry.
Owing to the logjam at the FCCI, the third largest chamber of the country with 3,800 members, industrialists and traders of the city are suffering for want of an elected body which could promote their cause and take up their issues with government’s decision-makers.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 1st, 2011.
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