LAHORE: The Lahore Gymkhana election campaign has picked up momentum as the two traditional groups have launched their panels -- each having 12 members.

Five independents are also in the run for the election that is scheduled to be held on Feb 1.

At the outset, the poll campaign has gone into heated debate of allegations and rebuttals as outgoing Lahore Gymkhana chairman Kamran Lashari on Wednesday launched his panel with an unequivocal slogan that the contest is between “propaganda and performance”.

Besides Mr Lashari, his panel candidates are Khwaja Imran Zubair, Shaukat Javed, former DIG Samiur Rahman, Ahsan Saeed Mian, Mian Javed Zahur, Dr Syed Atif Hasnain Kazmi, Qamar Khan (Bobby), Syed Tayyab Hussain Rizvi, Ms Rabeea Salman, Zil-a-Ilahi and Prof Dr Col Iffat Batool.

Former Lahore Gymkhana chairman Mian Misbahur Rehman’s panel candidates are: Mian Misbahur Rehman, Dr Jawad Sajid Khan, Dr Ali Razaque, Samira Maroof Khan, Mian Parvez Bhandara, Sarmad Nadeem, Agha Ali Imam, Zahid Nabi Malik, Parvez Bashir Agha, Prof Dr Abdul Majeed Chaudhry, Wajid Aziz Khan and Taimur Azmat Osman.

Mr Rehman had launched his panel a few days ago and hit out at the outgoing body led by Mr Lashari for “spending over Rs500 million during the past three years”. The amount, he said, could help develop the world’s best club building.

He alleged that the club’s assets were used on the projects of renovation and alterations and it was running into loss. He also alleged that the club money was spent without taking the management committee and members at large on board.

Mr Rehman had committed that his panel after winning the election would turn around the fate of the club within one year and resign. “The club’s management committee tenure should not be more than one year,” he demanded.

Chairman candidate Dr Jawad Sajid Khan said the outgoing body spent Rs430 million during the last three years and made club a “mere eating place”. The food quality had declined and there was also the issue of lack of parking space, he said.

Mr Lashari on Wednesday clapped back saying he was contesting the election with a vision of “taking Gymkhana to another level” and added that he and his team could give a new look to the club that had somewhat become an unexciting place. He said every facility had been refurbished with an aesthetic appeal. “Now members’ faces gleam as they visit the club,” he said.

“Now voters are supposed to elect a body that will be able to work for one objective: the betterment of Gymkhana,” he said.

The rival panel, he alleged, had got together out of fear and insecurity due to the results unraveled during his tenure. He said Misbah was a tried and tested candidate and Dr Jawad Sajid Khan, who had contested previous election with his (Lashari) panel, had developed an unnatural alliance with the Misbah panel.

Mr Lashari said his body brought in 312 new members whereas the Misbah group made over 700 members in his tenure. He said his team had refurbished the restaurant facilities to give a breath of fresh air to the facility. The expenditure made in the club, he said, was actually an investment on the value, experience and stability of the club.

“There is a 68pc increase in the fixed assets of the club,” he said and added that the funds were audited and presented in the annual general body meeting.

He said the club funds were spent after unanimous decisions and for equipment, furniture, electrical appliances and other facilities. He said three opposition members were part of the decision-making bodies and they did not oppose or give their dissenting note.

Referring to Misbah panel’s demand of reducing the club body tenure to one year, he said, the matter was sub judice and he would welcome any reduction in tenure.

Dr Ali Razaque who contested the last election from Misbaur Rehman group has joined Lashari group this time round while Qamar Khan (Lashari group contestant) was an independent candidate last time.

Published in Dawn, January 17th, 2020