Rival groups hopeful of victory as battle for FPCCI reign heats up

KARACHI: The battle for power to run the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI), the representative body of businessmen and industrialists across the country, has entered into the final stage.

Who will represent the business community? The polling for the FPPCI’s new office-bearers will be held on December 30 on Saturday.

The separation of the Saquib Fayyaz Magoon and Khurram Ejaz group and formation of an alliance with the opposition have caused difficulties for the ruling group Businessman Panel; however, both panels are claiming success and accusing their rivals of using government resources.

For this battle, the governors of Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are said to be supporting one side, while one caretaker federal and a provincial minister are on other side. It is expected that there will be neck and neck contests for the posts of president and vice presidents on December 30. The polling for the election of the representative body, FPCCI, will be held at the Federation House, Clifton. The tenure of the federation’s office-bearers has been increased from one year to two years.

According to the nomination papers, two panels are participating in the FPCCI polls. One group of the ruling Businessmen Panel is being led by former president Anjum Nisar, and it is being supported by KP Governor Haji Ghulam Ali, Sindh Governor Kamran Khan Tessori, former presidents Nasir Hayat Magu, Zakaria Usman, Sultan Chawla and others. The other group is led by Punjab caretaker minister Sheikh Tanveer Ahmed along with caretaker federal minister Gohar Ejaz, former presidents Zubair Tufail, Hanif Gohar, former vice presidents Saquib Fayyaz Magoon andKhuurm Ejaz and Hyderabad Chamber of Commerce President Adeel Siddiqui.

According to the nomination papers, Sheikh Mohammad Ali is the candidate for the post of president from the ruling Businessmen Panel, the Sheikh Atif Ikram is contesting for the post of president from former opposition panel, while Haji Ghani Usman of the Businessmen Panel and Saquib Fayyaz Magoon of the opposition panel are candidates for the positions of senior vice presidents.

According to the information received by Daily Jang, the Karachi Chamber has announced its support for the opposition group UBG, and after winning support of the BNP Progressive and the Karachi chamber, the opposition panel’s seems to have an advantage in the polls; however, the ballot on December 30 will decide the final result.

Talking to Daily Jang, the central leader of the ruling group and former president Nasir Magoon said that the competition is definitely tough, but we have a clear advantage in the associations class. He expressed the hope that his panel will win despite the alleged open interference of the DGT.

To a question, he said that the Karachi chamber of commerce will support the Businessmen Panel as the vice-presidential candidate Mafsar Malik is a representative of the Karachi chamber.

He alleged that a caretaker federal minister is taking undue advantage of his powers and that is why the representative of the DTO has become a tool of opposition and the election commission has also become a party and supporting the opposition group.

Another leader of the ruling group and former president Zakaria Usman said that we have a clear advantage, and the results of his meeting with former president Asif Zardari are very positive. He said that although DGTO has become a party, we have a clear majority, especially in the associations in Karachi, and we are far ahead.

He said two caretaker ministers are openly interfering and supporting the opposition UBG group, but we will thwart these tactics of the opposition.

Hanif Gohar from the opposition group UBG said that we have a clear majority after winning the support of the Businessmen Panel Progressive, and we have also a majority in Sindh and Punjab chambers. He hoped that the Karachi chamber will support the UBG group, as like the ruling Businessmen Panel they did not take financial advantages and did a lot of work for the businessmen.