The Businessmen Panel (BMP) will contest the upcoming election of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI)—the national umbrella body for chambers of commerce—after alleging that the United Business Group (UBG) broke a written agreement between the two sides.
BMP Chairman Mian Anjum Nisar announced the decision at a press conference at the Karachi Press Club with Secretary General Haji Ghulam Ali and Patron-in-Chief Sultan Chawla. Other leaders present included Rafique Suleman, Abdul Rahim Jano, Zakaria Usman, Haji Ghani Usman, Hanif Lakhani and Aun Ali Syed.
Sindh seat and the disputed pact
Nisar said Sindh’s business community cannot be sidelined in the FPCCI and that, under the agreement with UBG, the next president should come from Sindh. BMP leaders alleged that Sindh faces discrimination whenever provincial representation is at stake, and that the federation’s strength depends on balanced participation from all provinces.
They accused UBG of nominating SM Tanveer of Punjab for the presidency at a time they say was Sindh’s turn. They demanded that rights set out in the written pact be upheld and that the FPCCI be kept free of personal interests, with disputes handled through consultation and fair procedures.
Polls, candidate gap and economic focus
BMP leaders called for democratic traditions, transparency and fairness in the FPCCI polls. Asked about their own presidential nominee, they said the panel has not yet found a candidate to run against UBG’s Tanveer.
They argued that Pakistan already faces an economic crisis, inflation and a heavy tax burden, so the FPCCI should not become a stage for political confrontation. The priority, they said, should be solving problems facing the business community. They also voiced support for Field Marshal Hafiz Asim Munir’s economic vision and said they would not retreat from defending business rights, Sindh’s fair representation and their stated principles.
“We will never tolerate violation of the rights of Sindh and the written agreement between UBG and BMP,” they said, adding there would be no compromise on Sindh’s rights and that democratic traditions and transparency should be maintained in the FPCCI. They closed by saying BMP would take part in the elections and would not back down in what they called a battle of principles.
Aasan alfaaz mein
BMP ne kaha hai ke woh FPCCI ke intekhabat mein hissah len ge. Un ka ilzam hai ke UBG ne likhi hui deal tod di, jis mein agli sadarat Sindh ke liye thi. Abhi BMP ne SM Tanveer ke khilaf apna umeedwar nahi chuna. Inka kehna hai ke Sindh ke haqooq aur fair intekhabat zaroori hain.
