The Commerce Ministry is likely to get involved in calming tempers in the forthcoming elections in the Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FCCI) with National/Sitara and Founder Group's having locked horns.
Sources told Business Recorder Chairman of Founder Group, in a letter to Commerce Minister Amin Fahim stated that FCCI is a legal body with the objective of safeguarding the interests of traders, industrialists and allied business communities but unfortunately it is being ruled by a specific group since almost the inception of the Chamber - a group focused on promoting interests of members of that Group alone.
According to the letter, Muhammad Javed is the leader of the National Group and he has managed to select his own relatives as Presidents of the Chamber. Among past presidents of the FCCI were his son-in-law, brother-in-law and other members of his 'Sheikh' community. "They have also developed a fake group whose leader is Saleem, who is running a truck-stand at Faisalabad.
He has established the Chamber as a Kabadi ground just to show his 'Badmashi'," the letter said. Secondly, Sitara Group has appointed their General Manager, Colonel Zafar Mahmood (retired) as Secretary General of the FCCI to tailor fake registration for voting lists and changes in the election schedule as suitable to them, the Chairman of Founder Group added. According to him, Mian Javed is now working to nominate father-in-law of his niece as President of the FCCI. The letter states that FCCI is akin to a chamber of the 'Damaads' (sons-in-law).
Javed was himself President; then his brother-in-law Muhammad Idrees was President, then his brother-in-law Hamid Javed was President, and this year Qayyum, a close relative, is the President. Vice President Chawala is also his relative. "We request that instructions should be issued for stoppage of one family rule besides audit of FCCI by the Auditor General," the letter concluded. Sources said that Director General, Trade Organisations is to investigate the matter.