In an unusual move, the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) has sided with Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) in its political battle with the Pakistan Peoples Party. "The PML-N is holding an Awami rally at Neela Gumbad on the Mall on Friday to show its strength, what it calls a referendum against the Punjab governor."
PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif would address the rally likely to be attended by PML (N) workers from other cities also. Former PML (N) provincial minister Mujtaba Shujaur Rehman said the Fridays rally would prove to be a "flood" of masses.
The LCCI normally remained neutral in such political clashes in the past, but this time it has supported the PML (N) Awami march. In a statement, LCCI President Mian Muzaffar Ali said here on Thursday: "Keeping in view the sentiments of the business community, the LCCI had decided to support the March 6 strike call given by former LCCI President Mian Shahbaz Sharif.
The LCCI President called upon the Federal government to immediately take corrective measures to end political stalemate, which was a prerequisite to improve law and order situation and for turning economy around in the country.
Muzaffar Ali said due to political wrangling at national front, a large number of foreign diplomats, including Finland Ambassador Finland Osmo Lipponen and Mexico Ambassador Arturo Hernandez-Basave, who were due to visit the LCCI Industry in the coming days, had cancelled their visits, which was a bad omen for the country.
The LCCI President said that he was unable to understand why the Federal government had imposed Governors Rule on the province in the presence of an elected Provincial Assembly.
"If the Federal government had lost confidence in former chief minister Mian Shahbaz Sharif and acquired the backing of required number of MPAs, it should have gone for a no confidence against him to bring in a new man, but it is very unfortunate that it went the other way round and the whole nation is facing the consequences," he added.
He said the situation had reached a point where anti-social elements were challenging the writ of the law openly, while the industrial sector had nose-dived and fast heading towards point of no return with every passing day.
Muzaffar Ali said the imposition of Governors Rule on the province had sent a very wrong signal to the foreign investors, who had now started showing their inability to put their money in any new venture in Pakistan.
The LCCI President said: "Those who are sitting at the helm of affairs should take stock of the whole situation and review their decisions in the larger interests of the country." He said that all the economic indicators were enough to reveal the damages the recent political wrangling had caused to the country and it was high time that all such decisions be reverted without any further delay.
Meanwhile, the Businessmen Action Forum, an alliance of business community of Punjab, also announced to take part in the protest rally. A meeting was held under BAF Chairman Muhammad Ali Mian in which large number of business community of the Lahore participated, to give final shape to the programme.
Addressing the gathering, Muhammad Ali Mian asked the Federal government to immediately end infamous Governors Rule on Punjab and restore the PML-N government with its popular leader Mian Shahbaz Sharif, as the chief minister. He said the businessmen of the largest province had established the action forum to save the community from the after-effects of the illegal rule of a governor, who had no vision for development and was working against the democracy.
He said the business community was ready to accept orders of Shahbaz Sharif for the strike call throughout the province. "We have no desire to take part in politics, but we are very much clear about the upcoming events in the wake of un-constitutional acts of the rulers," he said.
"We will play our due role to strengthen the national economy and to start our peaceful protest against the unconstitutional Governors Rule on Punjab," the BAF Chairman told the gathering. He said the action forum had pledged to continue its protest in a professional and peaceful manner until all its demands were met and Shahbaz Sharif was reinstated as chief minister. He said this forum had representation from all chambers and trader associations of the province.
Muhammad Ali Mian, a former president of the LCCI, also invited the civil society, professionals and students to support the business community for the national cause. He said that the business community could feel on this stage that the economic prosperity would remain a dream without the political stability and real democracy.
He said every citizen would have to play his or her due role, and should support real leadership to achieve real political and economic stability. "Our country is standing at crossroad and one road is taking us to disunity, misrule, injustice and economic mismanagement, while other path ensures real democracy, justice, unity and economic prosperity," he said.
He said that the restoration of Shahbaz Sharif as chief minister and end to the Governors Rule would be only answer to ongoing crises. "We should know that disqualification of Shahbaz Sharif has caused unrest among public as well as business community," he said.
Muhammad Ali Mian said that the Punjab government, under Shahbaz Sharif, was functioning perfect well and had popular support from the public. He said the whole business community strongly condemned the disqualification of the popular leader and imposition of the illegal and extra-constitutional Governors Rule on Punjab.
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