By Asim Hussain
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Vice President and former acting President of FPCCI, Fehmida Kausar Jamali urged the President Saarc Chamber of Commerce of Industry, Ruwan Edirisinghe whose term already expired on 31st March 2020 to immediately handover the charge to the new President (designate) from Pakistan, Iftikhar Ali Malik along with all VP’s on video conferencing due to Corona Pandemic, so that working of SAARC CCI may not be disturb because post COVId-19 is crucial for trade and harmony in this important region.
Fehmida Kausar said that SAARC countries have rolled out a raft of stimulus packages to boost investments, buffer private businesses and bolster growth in response to the COVID-19 pandemic that has upended life and disrupted economic activity in a region inhabited by over 1.8 billion people and for that Saarc apex trade body continuity is equally important.
The World Bank already recently warned that South Asia faces its worst economic performance in 40 years due to the deadly coronavirus pandemic which has been wreaking havoc worldwide, she added. Meanwhile, Jamali also lauded the decision of the honorable bench regarding SAARC Chamber of the Balochistan High court and stated this judgement may strengthen the sanctity of Pakistan in SAARC CCI, as there was no need to distrub the earlier nominations of the FPCCI by it’s incumbent President Anjum Nisar which is now set aside by the court. “The court clearly stated that the revised nomination by the FPCCI for SAARC CCI have no value†.
The Balochistan High Court (BHC) has declared nomination of Daroo Khan as Vice President of SAARC Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SAARC CCI) as valid along with other nominations of the former President FPCCI and approved replacement of one male member with a female member.
According to the judgment signed by Chief Justice BHC Jamal Khan Mandokhel and Justice Nazeer Ahmed Langove in the earlier nomination list submitted by the then FPCCI, only one female member was nominated, whereas article 16(b) of the Constitution makes it incumbent upon the members body to nominate at least two women.
Though, the previous regime has violated the provisions of the article 16(b) of the Constitution by not nominating two female members, but it does not nullify the entire nomination. Such list could be rectified by deleting the name of one of the nominated male members from the list and replacing him with a female member.
The Bench allowed the constitutional petition filed by Daroo Khan, former President FPCCI, and declared the nomination of members submitted by the FPCCI on November 28, 2019 except one of the members Mazhar Nasir, as lawful. The court further directed that the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry should immediately nominate one female member so as to complete the required number of the members accordingly so as to make them ready to take oath as per schedule.
The subsequent request made by the incumbent President FPCCI for withdrawal of the list vide letter of January 6, 2020 and re-nomination of members vide letter of January 21, 2020 hence cannot be acted upon.
