25 October 2004	Monday	10 Ramazan 1425

KARACHI, Oct 24: Over a dozen community-based organizations (CBOs) and NGOs representing fishermen have expressed concern over the inordinate delay in convening the meeting of the 15-member board of directors of the Fishermen Cooperative Society , key organization managing the seafood business in the Karachi Fish Harbour.

The representatives of these organizations held a meeting here to review the post-August 4 situation, when the elections for seven directors had been held.

They said the formation of the FCS board had been completed after the Aug 4 elections, which were held through secret ballot, and prior to the elections of seven directors, the government had even nominated eight directors according to the society by-laws.

They said there was no justification for further delaying the meeting of the board, which was the highest decision-making body to manage the business of the society and the fish harbour.

The representatives alleged that the FCS affairs had not been running smoothly for a few years due to the "undue interferences" of the Sindh government.

They argued that due to official intrusion in the society's matters, a tussle between the elected and the nominated directors had ensued, causing serious damage to the FCS role and image.

They further said the government-nominated directors, by virtue of their majority status, could play a decisive role by initiating a dialogue with the elected representatives in order to break the deadlock on management issue by mutual consent.

But instead of calling the FCS board's meeting, the government had imposed a two-men managing committee to run the affairs of the society, they deplored.

They said currently there was a complete chaos and uncertainty in the administration of the FCS.

According to them, the society by-laws clearly state that the management of the business and affairs of the FCS shall be entrusted to a board consisting of 15 directors. Of them, eight are to be nominated by the government and seven are elected by fishermen who are the shareholders and members of the society.

According to the by-laws, the board, at its first meeting after its formation, shall elect from amongst its members a chairman and vice-chairman.

They further argued that the government-nominated two-member committee was no solution to the problems currently faced by fishermen community.

They urged the Sindh government to stop interfering in the affairs of the society, and immediately call the meeting of the board for electing a new chairman and vice-chairman.

Maintaining that the society had badly suffered due to "political influence", they said that all stockholders should play their due role in restoring the independent status of the society, which they said was a welfare body for the fishermen.

The meeting was attended by the representatives of the Lara Fishermen Jamat (Khadda), Anjuman Maigir Mubarak Village, Shamspir Fishermen Welfare Association, Baba-Bhit Fishermen Association, Mangora Fishermen Jamat, Baloch Welfare Association, Pakistan Baloch Anjuman, Anjuman Naujawan Mauripur, Bundari Jamat Baldia, Karachian Jamat, Salehabad Muslim Jamat, Baldia Fishermen Welfare Association, Noorani Jamat and the Sangur Welfare Association.