FPCCI urges government to unearth conspiracy

Showing great concern over the security failure during the Ashura procession, the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) on Monday demanded of the government to unearth conspiracy behind the arson after the blast.
Addressing a meeting, which was attended by various chambers and associations, at Federation House, Sultan Ahmed Chawla, President FPCCI said it was a source of great concern that the city's old market had been burnt in the presence of police and Rangers. He questioned as to what was the reason for the delay in the fire control process and why these fire brigades were unable to control fire.
The law enforcement agencies had turned a deaf ear on the incident that day and did not act to stop mobs and culprits who damaged the goods and set ablaze their shops, he added. He said these acts of terrorism across the board are meant to destabilise the economic process and business in the country. He emphasised that the government should strengthen the LEAs.
He urged upon creating a disaster management cell, which should deal with all such terrorist activities. It should safeguard all the markets and industrial estates. Talking about the transparency in compensation to the victims, Chawla said FPCCI has focused on a crystal clear transparent process and speedy action for the compensation and restart businesses for the victims of Karachi incident, which resulted in heavy loss of life, property and business of innocent people.
He suggested that the taxpayers should be given priority in the compensation move. He, however, appreciated the role of institutions that acted timely and raised the voice to concerned quarters for acquisition of amount for rehabilitation work. He said FPCCI has requested the member bodies that the estimated loss incurred in the recent incident should be fairly declared by the victims so that FPCCI could prepare a report which will clearly determine the quantum of losses and funds required for compensation.
On the occasion, engineer Jabbar, former Vice President of FPCCI, criticised the law enforcement agencies saying that people have no confidence over the probe by these agencies, which immediately declared the attack as suicidal. During last few months, he said, 335 people lost their lives in Punjab beside Peshawar where business activity has almost become zero due to prevailing insecurity, he added.
Another member suggested that reconstructing or renovating markets and shops should be registered as most of the things smuggled through Afghanistan, were mostly soled in the same market. Others who participated in the meeting were Zakariya Usman, Vice Presidents FPCCI, Mumtaz Ali Sheikh, Muhammad Mansha Churra, Vice Presidents FPCCI, S M Muneer, Senator Abdul Haseeb Khan, Haji Shafiq-ur-Rehman, Dr Mirza Ikhtiar Baig, Majyd Aziz, EC members and other representatives of member bodies.