The Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry's (FPCCI's) elections 2007-08 are likely to be a lacklustre affair as no visible activity and enthusiasm has been displayed by the two arch rivals Businessmen Forum (BF) and Businessmen Panel (BP) so far.
The BF leadership led by Senator Ilyas Bilour is lying totally dormant, except for issuing occasional statements to keep its name afloat. The BP led by Tariq Saeed appears to be moving in a subtle way in keeping the names of its candidates for different posts a secret till the last moment.
Although paperwork relating to the election has started, the process being one of the longest would culminate on December 31 with the holding of Annual General Meeting and induction of the new office-bearers.
Tariq Saeed, being an experienced campaigner, appears to have changed his election strategy this time. Instead of declaring his nominees for different offices, he is holding back their names till such time nominations from chambers and associations are received and the managing committee elections are completed.
He is unlikely to make the names of candidates known until the first week of December. He says that once the entire process of election of managing committee is completed, it will give a clear picture about the strength of candidates vying for the office of the president and vice-presidents etc, and make nomination of the candidates easy. The selection of the candidate will be by consensus and held in transparent manner. But the candidates who have announced their intentions to contest various offices have started convincing for support. Tanveer Ahmed Shaikh from Multan and Misbah ul Islam from Lahore appears to be the only serious candidates for the office of President from the BP.
Tanveer had recently undertaken a tour of different chambers in his area, particularly Jhang and Faisalabad, where he was assured full support but he reportedly told his supporters that he would be in the run provided he is awarded ticket by the BP.
Misbah is being backed by Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry but his supporters do not enjoy the strength, which is required for a winning candidate.
The Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry have arranged an Iftar-dinner on October 15 in honour of Tariq Saeed, S.M. Muneer and other leaders of BP, where support for the candidature of Tanveer Shaikh would be announced.
However, the candidates and their supporters will have to show patient and wait until the first week of December when the winning candidate would be "crowned" by the BP. The inactivity of BF is indicative of the fact the FPCCI 2007-08 elections would a one-sided affair.
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