The Lahore Stock Exchange (LSE) board failed to decide the fate of new chairman of the LSE in its marathon meeting, lasting for three and half an hours, on Thursday and the chair finally put off it without announcing the next date.
There was a clear divide in the meeting into two groups: The elected directors led by Syed Asim Zafar, nominated Hamesh Khan, head of Bank of Punjab, who is a SECP nominated director, as their candidate for the slot of chairman. The other group, led by MD of the exchange, Hamid Imtiazi, re-nominated Ibrar A Mumtaz and reportedly exerted pressure on Asim group for electing his nominee.
Insiders told Business Recorder that both the groups remained sticks to their decisions, adding, at one stage hot words were also exchanged between the two sides. Sources revealed that SECP chairman Razi-ur Rehman telephoned Asim Zafar and asked him for electing Ibrar A Mumtaz. However, Asim Zafar group did not show any flexibility in their stance and insisted on voting. When contacted, the LSE MD said that meeting failed to agree on the election of the chairman and had been adjourned. "We have not fixed the next date of the meeting, but it will be probably held anytime during the next week," he added.
According to sources, if Asim Zafar group does not succumb to the government pressure and voting takes place, their candidate will win as they hold majority in the house. Asim Zafar group, out of nine votes, has six votes ie five elected directors while one vote of Hamesh Khan, candidate for the office of the chairman.