KARACHI: All 15 candidates of Businessmen Group (BMG) led by Chairman BMG & Former President KCCI Siraj Kassam Teli defeated their opponents from Patriot Businessmen Group (PBG), who were being backed by Aqeel Karim Dhedhi, Maqsood Ismail and S.M. Muneer, in Karachi Chamber’s Annual Election 2018-19.
According to unofficial and unconfirmed election results, a total of 5245 Ballot papers were issued, of which 5010 ballot papers were declared valid and 235 invalid. All 15 BMG candidates secured votes in range of 3246 and 3404 votes whereas the opponent party’s candidates were hardly got votes in between 1760 to 1545, clearly indicating the margins of more than 50 percent.
Addressing a huge gathering of supporters after the announcement of unofficial results at KCCI’s auditorium, Chairman BMG & Former President KCCI Siraj Kassam Teli stated that record breaking number of votes were casted in this year’s elections as large number of businessmen and industrialists came forward to support BMG who rejected Change and supported continuity at KCCI.
He said that it was not these youngster opponents but Maqsood Ismail, Aqeel Karim Dhedhi, S.M. Muneer, Yahya Polani and Rahim Janoo, who actually misguided and pushed them forward to contest against BMG. All these self-proclaimed leaders of the business community have no intention to do anything for the well-being of business community but are only concerned about themselves and their interests.
“To become a true leader, one has to struggle really hard and dedicatedly serve the public with good intent and all his sincerity. September 15th is undoubtedly a historic day as the entire world is celebrating “International Democracy Day” and democracy has triumphed at KCCI as well. It is a historic day when thousands of people came out to get counted in KCCI’s elections which will always be remembered”, he added.
He further said, “We are not against election as it is a healthy sign but that doesn’t mean that the opponents and their supporters should get personal, raise baseless allegations and give negative remarks. It is an election of business community but unfortunately supporters of our opponents, who recently faced defeat in the national politics, carried out the same politics of allegations in KCCI’s elections as well which the business and industrial community straightaway rejected by extending overwhelming support to BMG.”
He said that these elements lodged at least 15 complaints at DGTO and used their connections to get KCCI’s elections monitored by two government officials which has never ever happened in the history of Pakistan and Karachi Chamber. “Therefore, the decision to deploy Monitoring Team comprising government officials was challenged at the High Court of Sindh as it was totally illegal and we requested the honorable High Court to deploy any senior judge or court’s representative who could monitor the election process with a view to clear all doubts”, he added while appreciating the High Court’s decision to depute Nazir and strongly criticized the one-sided decision taken by Secretary Commerce Younus Dagha in this regard.
While further appreciating the entire business and industrial community for taking the 20 years of “Public Service” by BMG into consideration, he particularly paid glowing tribute to all BMGIANs for making extraordinary efforts during the election campaign to ensure victory for BMG and Siraj Teli. He also acknowledged the support extended by Mian Anjum Nisar, Mian Zahid Hussain, Zakria Usman, Nasir Hayat Magoo and Shaukat Ahmed from Businessmen Panel and all others along with representatives of all major commercial markets, traders, businessmen and industrialists who supported BMG and struggled hard for today’s historic victory. “It was undoubtedly a blessings in disguise as many of my lost friends came back to support me and my group”, he added. He further appreciated the members of the Election Commission for neutrally carrying the election proceedings with all their dedication and honesty.
The highest number of 3404 votes were secured by Mr. Muhammad Hanif, followed by Hafeez Aziz (3396 votes), Shahid Ismail (3386 votes), Waseem-ur-Rehman (3378 votes), Shamoon Zaki (3378 votes), Faisal Naeem (3371 votes), Junaid Esmail Makda (3370 votes), Shakeel-ur-Rehman (3366 votes), Asif Younus Sumsum (3364 votes), Hassan Sheikh Vohra (3361 votes), M. Haroon Qaiser (3349 votes), Sohail Ahmed (3342 votes), Shoaib Sultan (3307 votes), Humayoun Muhammad (3296 votes) and Mohammad Ammar Shaikh (3246 votes). The final results will be announced at the Annual General Meeting scheduled to be staged at KCCI on September 29th, 2018.
