Senator Ilyas Ahmad Bilour-led ruling Businessman Forum of Sarhad Chamber of Commerce & Industry (SCCI) has failed in making rapprochement with City Peshawar District Nazim, Ghulam Ali, his arch foe, both in national and businessmen community politics, after the latter's son reportedly declined the offer to become member of the executive committee of the Chamber.
Fayyaz Ali, son of the district nazim, was offered the seat vacated after the sacking of Sajjad Gul Awan for failure to attend consecutive meetings of the executive committee of Sarhad Chamber.
The new member resigned shortly after his nomination as member of the executive committee and declined to accept the post given to him in the aftermath of a meeting held between district nazim and former president of Tribal Area Chamber of Commerce & Industry (TACCI) in Saudi Arabia, where both were staying for performing Umra.
According to reports reaching here from Saudi Arabia, both leaders have agreed to end all differences. Ilyas Bilour and Ghulam Ali were being considered foes of each other as the latter has contested chamber elections against Businessman Forum from the platform of Businessman Panel.
Ghulam Ali has been elected City District Nazim Peshawar, defeating Haroon Bashir Bilour, nephew of Ilyas. Thus, rapprochement between the two leaders seems impossible as Ghulam Ali has the backing of the worst political rivals of the Bilour family.
Leader of the Businessman Panel and vice president of Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FPCCI), Faiz Rasool Khan, ruled out rapprochement with Bilour-led Businessmen Forum, saying that both groups are poles apart and there is no possibility of rejoining the latter.
He said that Businessman Forum is fast losing confidence of the business community. Therefore, Bilour has been left with no option other than making efforts of rapprochement with his worst rivals. He said that he was also being approached by the rivals. He said that it was astonishing that Bilour was making rapprochement efforts with Ghulam Ali who in past had been opposed by him at every forum and platform.
"The loss of support of more than 150 industrialists of the industrial estates has forced Bilour to use every available tactic to save his rule in the affairs of Sarhad Chamber," Faiz Rasool said.