ISLAMABAD: United Business Group (UBG) senior office-bearer Sahibzada Mian Usman Zulfiqar has said the election commission of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) is unable to declare official and final election results due to Sindh High Court order of December 29, 2021 because status of some votes are sub judice in different courts.
The SHC has barred announcement of any kind of result until next hearing/fate of the writ petition filed on and temporary injunction given on December 29, 2021. However, one of the Businessmen Panel (BMP) member’s told Business Recorder that the Group was the winner but results will formally be announced after the decision of apex court.
Both the competing groups, BMP and United Business Group (UBG) have often disclosed use of fake and bogus trade bodies and illegal nominations to rig elections in their favour. Both the key groups of FPCCI also use their political and institutional clout to win the elections, like political parties.
The case of outgoing President is already with Commerce Ministry since long for a decision on his elections.
However High Court of Sindh (SHC) ordered issuance of notice for January 13, 2022 through Attorney General of Pakistan to Secretary Commerce, FPCCI, DGTO and others in a case regarding inclusion of the names of different trade bodies in the final voter list of FPCCI for 2022 as unlawful.
High Court further ordered that votes cast by the controversial trade bodies be sealed and kept separate subject to the orders of SHC, but result of the election shall not be announced.
The case of Irfan Iqbal Sheikh representing Lahore Chamber of Commerce is also pending before the LHC for the final verdict as per case no 2923/2021.
Dr. Nauman Idris Butt of Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry as runner-up followed by Muhammad Aslam Sheikh and Aamir Atta Bajwa, presidential candidates are also waiting for the final outcome from the court.
In the meantime, previous FPCCI President Mian Naseer Hyatt Maggo along with his cabinet is continuing to run the affairs of the Federation so authorised by the 65th Annual General Body of the FPCCI till the final outcome of the verdict.
“Let’s see what court will decide, but we hope rule of law will/shall prevail because many Associations status had been challenged before the court which appeared in the FPCCI final list of voters for 2022 and everybody should wait for the decision of High Court,” Zulfiqar maintained.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2022