Beer-nomics Murree: Brewery dispute takes odd turn

Bhandara accuses brother-in-law of irregularities.

ISLAMABAD:

A dispute among the family that owns the Murree Brewery Company continued on Wednesday as the company’s chief executive officer (CEO) held his brother-in-law responsible for what he called an attempt to  “eat up” company shares.

Addressing the press conference, Isphanyar Bhandara, the head of Murree Brewery, chief executive officer (CEO) and a Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) member of the national assembly (MNA), highlighted the family dispute and stated that his mother was provoked against him by his brother- in-law.

He accused three people — his sister, brother-in-law Rustom Sidhva, and employee Nasim Gul Khattak — were responsible for the family dispute and they were trying to defame him through different means.

He said the defamation attempts are being made because he is a political figure and also the CEO of a well-reputed company.

He claimed Sidhva has left his mother near death by using “witchcraft and black magic” on a regular basis.

“I’m willing to negotiate with my mother, but they are creating hurdles,’’ he added. He alleged that after death of his father MP Bhandara, the three people he accused were busy taking hold of company shares and attempting to grab his property.

The CEO also alleged that Sidhva had opened around two dozen accounts in the name of his mother and his basic aim was to transfer all the company’s money into these accounts.

Bhandara informed the media that Sidhva, who is an Indian national residing in Pakistan since the 1980s, was a defaulter of Rs150 to Rs200 million and cases were registered against him.

“They have misguided my mother by saying that all company colleagues, family members are bad people and only they are their well-wishers,” he added.

Bhandara said that they had convinced his mother that he had no inheritance and she moved a court after being cajoled by the troika so that he could be deprived of his inheritance. “Today she is claiming to be the lone heir of the company through a succession certificate,’’ he remarked.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 13^th, 2014.