From the court rooms and precincts of the high courts of Lahore and Sindh, the current malaise of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) will now get aired in the imposing halls of the National Assembly and the Senate.
Many a scandal, which have remained hidden thus far, would be exposed and the curriculum vitae (CV) of persons claiming to be business leaders would be placed before the two houses to uncover the faces of those who have made the FPCCI their rendezvous to "transact private business."
Business Recorder understands on good authority that, besides castigating the role of the Director Trade Organisations and the Ministry of Commerce for its inaction and turning a blind eye to the issues, which have turned the apex trade body of the country into a "lame duck," the "hidden hands", who have brought ignominy and shame to it, would be exposed.
Likely questions that would hit members desks would relate to mysteries which continue to haunt members of the business community relating to : participation in Lisbon fair arranged by the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry, FPCCI's participation in the Hanover 2000, how and why there was a delay in depositing funds, which were raised for the relief of Kashmiris, report of the DTO on the existence of 'bogus' and paper trade bodies and the dominance of non-genuine representation in the managing committee of the FPCCI.
The dust was kicked up when Riaz Ahmed Tata refused to step down on January 1, 2004, after completing one year in office, in favour of Maqsood Ismail as per an understanding, and his denial of signing any resignation letter.