S M Munir, leader of Businessmen's Alliance (BMA), has demanded that the forthcoming election of Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) should be held under the supervision of Director of Trade Organisation (DTO).
Addressing a press conference to announce the names of candidates for KCCI election for managing committee seats, he said that the business community has no trust in the present managing committee that that it would hold free and fair election.
Khalid Tawab, presidential candidate of BMA, said that after the group's success in the election, Businessmen's Alliance would open the doors of KCCI to all traders and industrialists irrespective of their status or business, and the alliance has been formed by industrious traders and it is contesting this election not by virtue of a decision made by one section of businessmen.
He said that the governing group has put an end to the respect and dignity of the Karachi chamber and has spoiled commerce, which would be revived by BMA.
He said that BMA is not just representing one specific section of businessmen but is a common platform for all Karachi businessmen.
The candidates contesting election on BMA panel include Ahmned Chinoy, Jaffer Kudia, Siddique Mirchi, Altaf Majeed ST, Waheed Memon and Shahid Ismail from Gujarati group; Aamir Iqbal, Nadeem Kushtiwala, Khurram Khalil Nanitalwala, Asif Khan from Urdu group; and Manzar Alam, Khalid Amin, Alamgir A Shaikh , Hafiz Bilal from Punjabi group.
Munir claimed that the panel's one candidate, Shahid Ismail, from Town Association has been elected unopposed as no other candidate is filing nomination from town association.