25 January 2004	Sunday	02 Zilhaj 1424

LAHORE, Jan 24: Qaumi Tajar Ittehad Supreme Council chairman Mian Akbar Rashid has said that the traders had always supported the ruling party of the country or the government in power and would continue doing so in future as well.

He told newsmen after his election as chairman of the newly-formed QTI Supreme Council at the Lahore Press Club here on Saturday that ruling party of the country was always the party of the traders and obeying its orders was their duty.

He said the council comprised 25 members, including members of provincial organizations. It had been formed to take up the matters being faced by the traders on national level with the government, he added.

Meanwhile, Ansar Zahoor Butt was elected as Pakistan Qaumi Tajar Ittehad chairman and Sheikh Mushtaq president. Dr Mahmood Ahmad (Gujranwala), was elected vice-chairman and Tariq Mahmood Malik (Multan) secretary general.

Sheikh Idrees, Amjad Shaheen Butt and Humayun Iqbal Mir were elected as provincial chairman, secretary general and coordinator respectively.

Following were elected as Lahore QTI office bearers:

Chairman: Irfan Iqbal Sheikh; vice-chairman: Sohail Butt; senior vice-president: Babar Ali Khan; vice-presidents: Naeem Ghulam, Haji Khalid, Aslam Raza Butt and Babar Butt; secretary general: Fayyaz Khalid; additional finance secretary: Zahid Mir; information secretary: Nazir Chohan; organizer: Abid Ali; chief coordinator: Sheikh Omar Hayat; deputy coordinator: Waqar Husain.