Reap's conduct criticised

The Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (Reap) disintegrated annual general meetings (AGM) was held on September 17, 2005, at Karachi, without the needed quorum of 25 percent of 1044 members.
And the way the Chairman one-sidedly decided and announced the results of last year's candidates without complying with DTO's order and ruling of High Court by not allowing the two rightful winning MC members from North Zone to cast their votes for the election of Chairman and Vice Chairman for tenure of 2005-07 was misbehaviour and misconduct on the part of the Chairman himself, supported by his colleagues who announced on the microphone that "we have misbehaved in the past and will continue to do so in the future, and the members can do what they like".
Police was compelled to enter the premises due to screaming and shouting and the situation became volatile.
The election of Chairman and Vice Chairman was held without any Returning Officer and Presiding Officer and even no scrutiny officer was appointed by the Managing Committee, as required by law.
It was a free-for-all. The Chairman and Vice Chairman both themselves conducted the election in separate corners.
This led to nothing but separate elections conducted in two different compartments--one by the Chairman and the other by Vice Chairman. But both are considered invalid in the eyes of the law as in the absence of quorum the only choice left for the members and supporters of both Groups was making the results null and void and thus a vacuum has been created and the matter is now undecided and suspended and fresh election of Chairman and Vice Chairman has been sought from the competent authority to carry out at a suitable new date. However, both groups are claiming victory of their candidates for Chairman and Vice Chairman.
This unethical misconduct of AGM's proceedings led by the Chairman backed by South Zone Group is highly condemnable, and urgent intervention in Reap's affairs is sought and solicited by way of handing over this orphan association through appointment of an Administrator from Export Promotion Bureau ( EPB) to bring an end to highly politicised environment created by vested interests in the form of Grouping thus breaking the entire rice trade into factions.
Also Quality Review Committee (QRC) from immediate effect must also be handed over to its actual owner, the EPB, and system of inspection of Basmati rice should immediately be made optional, instead of mandatory, and gradually be phased out, as in case of non-Basmati rice which has shown improvement in both volume and unit price.
Rice exporters are now concerned about improvement in quality of goods as the only available option to increased export sales.-PR