GUJRAT, April 23: The office-bearers of defunct GCCI have decided to approach the secretary commerce against the sealing of Gujrat Chamber of Commerce and Industry by the Punjab government.

Shaheen Group president Haji Nasir Mahmood told Dawn that the DTO, through a written letter, had given a period of two weeks to file an appeal against the sealing of the chamber. He said the office-bearer of defunct GCCI had decided to lodge a written complaint with the appellate authority (secretary commerce) against the decision of the provincial government within a couple of days.

He said the provincial government had not directed the DCO to seal of the chamber. It asked the DTO to thoroughly examine the chamber record with special reference to membership and valid voters list, besides making him as chief election commissioner for holding the fresh chamber elections.

He alleged that the DCO under the pressure of Chaudhrys sealed the chamber. He said the activists and members of the Shaheen Group had decided to go on a complete strike after April 28.

Meanwhile, two former presidents of the GCCI and sitting president of the Pakistan Electric Fan Manufacturers Association (PEFMA) had refused to support the dissident members of the Shaheen Group (ruling group of the sealed chamber) who are trying to form new group.