BAHAWALPUR: The executive committee of the Bahawalpur Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) passed a no-confidence motion against its sitting president Malik Muhammad Sarfraz Nazam Awan on Wednesday.

The announcement was made by BCCI Secretary-General Syed Abeer Haider in a press release. He said a copy of the executive committee’s order had been sent to the director-general, Trade Organisations, Islamabad.

The release said the meeting was convened upon a written and duly-signed request from 25 BCCI executive committee members. Out of 25 movers, 23 voted in favour of the motion while two were absent for being abroad.

When dawn contacted the secretary-general, he said there were no allegations against the BCCI president. Instead, the meeting was convened following the directive of trade organisation DG who issued a directive in this respect on Oct 22.

In compliance of this letter, the no-confidence motion meeting was convened on Wednesday morning.

Malik Awan and his other cabinet members belonging to a group headed by a local MNA were declared elected unopposed last month. But, it is not yet clear what circumstances led to tabling of a no-confidence motion against the newly-elected BCCI president without any charges.

However, Awan claimed that the Bahawalpur Bench of the Lahore High Court had issued a stay order against the no-confidence motion.

According to his counsel, Mr Justice Muzamil Akhtar Shabbir in his orders on Awan’s writ petition, issued notices to respondents and sought comments by Oct 29.

“Even if the no-confidence is passed, it shall not be given effect till the next date of hearing,” the order said.

The petitioner has named four respondents -- federal government, ministry of commerce through its secretary, DG Trade Organizations, Islamabad, Secretary-General BCCI and 25 executive members of BCCI.

He prayed the motion against him be declared as illegal.

VAN CRASH: Three students of the Government Degree College for Girls, Yazman, suffered injuries when their van overturned due to over-speeding near village 88 on Wednesday.

There were 20 students on board.

Published in Dawn, October 24th, 2024