FPCCI election enters decisive phase

The Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) elections entered a decisive phase as the rival groups announced their presidential candidates on Saturday. Progressive Businessmen Panel has announced Misbah-ur-Rehman as its candidate for FPCCI top slot, and the move is bound to generate heat in the Businessmen Panel.
Misbah, a former Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) president, used to be among Businessmen Panel active leaders. For his commitment to the group, the Businessmen Panel had offered to make him candidate for vice president office, but he expected much more, and it was not less than the office of president. His name was also among four expected candidates, who intended to contest the elections for FPCCI president for 2007-08, term.
However, Businessmen Panel leaders had in mind the commitment given to Tanveer Shaikh in the 2001-02 elections. He belongs to Multan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) and enjoys good reputation in the group for his unflinching support.
Businessmen Panel chairman Tariq Sayeed recalled the events of 2001-02 elections when Iftikhar Ali, a Businessmen Panel co-chairman and former president of LCCI, won the election.
Tariq said: "I go by the rules of the game and, honestly speaking, this principle was the actual strength of the Businessmen Panel." Tanveer Shaikh, a senior leader of the group, had wished to contest the president election in 2001-02. But the panel leadership preferred Iftikhar Ali Malik for this position and Tanveer Shaikh was asked to contest for vice president office, which he accepted and later both won with great margin.
Later on, Iftikhar Ali Malik, who is my trusted colleague, gave an understanding to Tanveer Shaikh that he would be given a chance to contest the president election when it comes to Punjab's turn. Since the upcoming elections have moved the pendulum towards Punjab for its turn, I stuck to honour Iftikhar Ali Malik's commitment to Tanveer Shaikh as Businessmen Panel presidential candidate for next two years term".
Tariq claimed that Businessmen Panel was in extremely comfortable position against Progressive Businessmen Panel, the rival group, "since its enjoys overwhelming majority" for the upcoming election. He said 'A' class associations elections being held on December 6 will settle the dust and clear both groups.
He claimed that Progressive Businessmen Panel was short of its candidates for different seats. He said that Amjad Rashid, from Multan, and Chaudhary Akram from Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Naseem from Quetta Chamber of Commerce and Industry have left Progressive Businessmen Panel and joined Businessmen Panel which itself was indicative of his group's popularity.