24 January 2004	Saturday	01 Zilhaj 1424

KARACHI, Jan 23: Now that all appears quiet in the Federation House where the office of the apex trade body, the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry is located.

The dirt thrown by the rival business groups on each other has hardly left anyone worth the name without any spot on him.

Even after this patch up, many businessmen expect leadership change in the FPCCI in next few months and are convinced that next elections of the Managing Committee and those of seven vice presidents and the President before the end of 2004 would be much "more dirty and murkier" to quote one of them.

Businessmen quote a letter written by Haroon Rashid one of the vice presidents of the FPCCI according to which Riaz Tata is sick and suffers from "incorrigible bronchitis". There are many in the FPCCI who say that a ceasefire has been brokered to facilitate graceful exit of Tata. Tata is not attending government functions and meetings.

But neither side showed any grace and respect for each other when it came to power grabbing. They accused each other of misusing the FPCCI office and funds. Businessmen from each of the two rival groups had many stories to tell but none dared to bring them on record or to discuss them in the Managing Committee meetings which should be the most appropriate forum.

There are many who question why the G-77 Chamber of Commerce and Industry is being funded by the FPCCI. "Why don't you bring it on the FPCCI MC agenda?" is the logical question that remains unanswered.

But for more than 45 days the two sides traded accusations and charges. The FPCCI President felt insecure and did not trust on police for the protection of his life. He sought security from the Rangers. Obviously, he felt a threat from his rival business group.

Riaz Tata was accused of moral bankruptcy because as his rivals said he backed out of a written pledge of holding FPCCI President's office for one year only. "We question Tata's presidentship on the legal and moral grounds," Sohail Altaf and his friends informed this correspondent just two days before the Managing Committee unanimously announced support for Tata to continue as President.

Tata's supporters question the legal validity of any written agreement, if at all there was any. "Any agreement arrived at in violation of the articles of association (of FPCCI) is invalid," AliAshraf, the chairman FPCCI Standing Committee on Accounts informed all the members of the FPCCI in an open letter. Ali Ashraf's contention is that FPCCI has got a mandatory document, the articles of association duly approved by the general body and government of Pakistan under Trade Organization Ordinance 1961 and asserted that everyone should follow and observe constitution.

Supporters of the two sides filed applications in the high courts of Sindh and Lahore and there were expectations that similar applications would be filed in high courts of Peshawar and Quetta very soon. The ceasefire came before the high courts of Lahore and Sindh could dispose of the applications and litigation could be extended to Quetta and Peshawar.

On Thursday, the proceedings of the Managing Committee were dominated by the life and patron members. Ilyas Bilour set the ball rolling to declare that he and his supporters would show all regard and respect to Riaz Tata as the President. Then as insiders say Tariq Sayeed spoke after Bilour and was followed by Jamil Mehboob Magoon.

The turn of the members of the Managing Committee came later to speak on the agenda, which was a report of audited accounts. There was hardly any discussion on the report of accounts. Perhaps, the MC of FPCCI is a rare group of businessmen that gives scant attention to accounts and administration and works overtime on politicking.

The time has now come to give a serious look at the list of the member chambers and 'A' and 'B' category associations of the FPCCI. Also interesting is the representation of the office bearers and members of the Managing Committee, their business and the trade bodies they represent on the FPCCI.

Sheikh Maqbool Ahmed vice president of the FPCCI does his business in Lahore but represents Thatta Chamber of Commerce and Industry in the FPCCI. Arshad Alam another Vice President is known for his tannery business in Lahore and Karachi but represents All Pakistan Oil Tankers Owners Association.

Sheikh Humayun Sayeed, younger brother of Tariq Sayeed is Chief Executive of a private insurance company but represents All Pakistan Two and Tri Wheelers Assembly cum Manufacturers Association. Raja Tariq Rehman is the managing director of a Karachi-based motor company but he represents Jehlum Chamber of Commerce. There are 38 members on the Managing Committee of the FPCCI who represent various chambers. Another 21 represent 'A' category associations while 20 represent 'B' category associations.

There are 40 chambers, 38 'A' category and 89 'B' category associations which are FPCCI members. Businessmen allege that a few chambers and A category associations and a very large number of 'B' category trade associations are bogus and paper trade bodies. It is with the representation from these bogus trade bodies that power brokers manipulate and perpetuate themselves for all times in the businessmen politics.