ISLAMABAD: A prominent leader of the traders’ community, Ajmal Baloch, on Friday lost the Aabpara Traders Welfare Association election to an underdog.

Ajmal Baloch enjoys closer ties with the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI).

He was defeated by Malik Zaheer Ahmed.


Candidate backed by small chamber becomes Aabpara market president


Though a less known figure in business politics, Mr Zaheer had the support of the Islamabad Chamber of Small Traders & Small Industries (ICSTSI).

As the warring groups sharpen their weapons, one of the party – the Islamabad Chamber of Small Traders & Small Industries (ICSTSI) has announced to organise a sit-in outside the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) in support of their demands.

“The ICCI has been dominated by a few people for more than a decade,” said Malik Zaheer Ahmed, in a statement issued on Friday.

“They are in panic now as the result of Aabpara market elections has finished their game,” he said.

Meanwhile, Kamran Abbassi, president ICSTSI said they were quiet for almost two weeks only waiting for the new president to take over the charge.

“But I announce now that the monopoly of the ICCI will end soon. They have done nothing for more than 50,000 small traders in the city,” Kamran Abbassi said adding, “We will show our strength to the ICCI in the sit-in next week.”

On the other hand the ICCI is backing the opponents of current ICSTSI management, and these traders are talking to initiate a shutter down strike in Islamabad against the FBR over various issues possibly to increase their influence among the traders.

The next elections are scheduled in G-8 and F-10 Marakaz.

Both sides are fighting a proxy war to ensure that their supported groups win the elections at various Marakiz in Islamabad, which are scheduled to start from first week of December.

“We are confident of winning both of elections in G-8 and F-10 markaz,” Kamran Abbassi said.

On the other hand his opponents Khalid Mehmood and Ajmal Baloch have approached the commerce ministry for cancellation of the operating licence of Islamabad Chamber of Small Traders & Small Industries.

“The licence was given to Kamran Abbassi in a fraudulent way and we will continue to fight for the rights of traders against this injustice,” Ajmal Baloch said.

Meanwhile, in an unexpected move the key leader of ICCI, Munawar Mughal who is currently the vice president Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) has officially congratulated the new body of TWA Aabpara, and even the leaders of small chambers over their victory.

“We are like a patron body of business community in Islamabad – we are concerned about all businesspersons whether they are our members or not,” he said.

But his opponents say that the move was to woo the ICSTSI before the next FPCCI elections scheduled early next year because small chamber has one vote in the FPCCI.

Published in Dawn, November 29th, 2014

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