Business leaders from Balochistan have urged the necessity of bringing about a constructive and healthy change in the composition and functioning of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI).
Former President of Quetta Chamber of Commerce and Industry Fazal Kadir Khan Sherani, in a letter, delivered to Commerce Minister Humayun Akhtar in Islamabad on March 28, has drawn his attention towards the anomalies that are retarding good and clean governance in the apex trade body of the country.
Copies of the letter have also been delivered to the Director, Trade Organisations (DTO), Ministry of Commerce, and the FPCCI President.
Sherani, who is also life member of the FPCCI, drawn the Commerce Minister's attention towards the participation of Azad Jammu and Kashmir on roster of the FPCCI.
In the memorandum and articles of association of the FPCCI, which referred to the participation in the roster for vice-presidents, he said one slot had also been given to Azad Jammu and Kashmir, besides proper and equal participation to all the four federating units of Pakistan.
So also, he said, a share in the roster for the FPCCI presidentship had also been given to the AJK, which was in clear violation of a court decision.
He cited a writ petition, filed in the Lahore High Court by Sardar Abdul Razak, advocate, in 2001 challenging Kashmiris' right of vote in the national, provincial and local bodies elections.
The following orders were passed by the Lahore High Court in this petition: "That Kashmir is not a part of Pakistan and, therefore, its subjects (Kashmiris) cannot participate in any election of Pakistan as the AJK has its own territorial limits, constitution, flag, assembly, cabinet and separate government from Pakistan's jurisdiction."
He pointed out that the roster of FPCCI had given the right of consecutive two terms of two years each as office-bearers from Punjab and Sindh, whereas Balochistan and NWFP have been given only one term of two years. Since FPCCI represents all the four federating units, the four provinces should be treated equally, he said.
Sherani further contested the right of voting for the office of FPCCI president and vice-presidents.
Presently, the slots of president and vice-presidents are filled on rotation basis among the provinces in alphabetical order. Each provincial chamber, though nominates its candidate for the slot of office-bearers, but again has to seek votes from executive committee members of FPCCI in the elections.
Provincial chambers, having majority votes in the form of larger representation of chambers, undermines this nomination negating the whole idea of equality of representation in the FPCCI.
Sherani proposed that one candidate be elected by a province against the allotted slot of the FPCCI president/vice-president on the basis of elections among its chambers and such candidate need not contest again in the FPCCI, seeking votes from all it's the federating units.
Way back in 2001, soon after the Lahore High Court's decision, Sherani written a letter to the then FPCCI President, urging amendment to the FPCCI's by-laws.
"The question arises that when Kashmir is not part of Pakistan, then how the FPCCI has given rights to the residents of Kashmir to participate in the election of the FPCCI and also contest for the position of president of the apex trade body," he pointed out.
But no weight was given to the arguments and stand taken by Sherani. On the contrary, the present incumbent, who hails from Kashmir, was elected President for a two-year term last year.
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