KARACHI, Dec 31: President FPCCI, Riaz Ahmed Tata has again clarified that he is the president of the FPCCI and will continue to be for the year 2004.

Addressing a press conference at the Federation House on Wednesday, he said that a very prominent member had declared that he would turn FPCCI into a battle ground and that a new leader would assume office on January I, 2004 in violation of all the laws, rules & regulations and Articles of Association.

He said he would save the apex body from unscrupulous elements. He said that neither he had resigned nor did he plan to make such a move. He said rumours circulated are what he called "a pack of lies, circulated by a group that wants to monopolize the apex trade body to promote its own interests".

Tata, however, urged the dissident members to join him as the community needs unity to tackle issues and challenges thrown up, specially those that entail implementation of WTO regime in 2005.