KARACHI: The chairman of the Businessmen Panel Progressive (BMPP) and vice president of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI), Asif Sakhi, has denounced the filing of a First Information Report (FIR) against Faisal Moiz Khan, president of the North Karachi Association of Trade and Industry (NKATI). The FIR, lodged by the Karachi Water and Sewerage Corporation (KWSC), accuses Khan of water theft, a charge Sakhi claims is fabricated and malicious.

According to Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Sakhi described the FIR as an act of victimisation against Khan, a prominent industrialist and taxpayer. Sakhi argued that the action was an attempt to intimidate the business and industrial sectors of Karachi. He noted that Khan has been an active advocate for the city's business community, frequently addressing their concerns at governmental levels, especially regarding water shortages and infrastructure issues in the North Karachi Industrial Area.

Sakhi accused the authorities of retaliating against Khan for his outspoken stance on water, gas, and electricity shortages affecting the industrial community. He asserted that rather than addressing these systemic issues, the authorities have targeted Khan, who has been instrumental in bringing these challenges to light.

The BMPP leadership, backed by the broader business community, has expressed solidarity with Khan and NKATI. Sakhi called for the immediate withdrawal of the FIR and demanded accountability for the officials involved in what he described as harassment.