KARACHI: The Karachi Chamber of Commerce & Industry (KCCI) has firmly opposed a decision by the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FPCCI) Secretary General that disqualified its nominations for the FPCCI elections 2027-28. KCCI President Talat Mahmood criticized the decision, citing concerns about its fairness and transparency within the electoral process.

According to Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the disqualification stemmed from KCCI's failure to purchase membership certificate books from FPCCI, despite having submitted the necessary nomination paperwork and supporting documents. Mahmood argued that such a decision lacked a clear legal foundation and required an impartial review by the Directorate General of Trade Organizations (DGTO).

Mahmood rejected the characterization of KCCI's membership certificates as "Bogus," labeling it as derogatory and harmful to the Chamber's credibility. He highlighted that the decision admitted the submission of various documents, yet disqualified KCCI’s nominations over the certificate-book issue.

Clarifying procedural practices, Mahmood stated that KCCI has printed its membership certificates through the Pakistan Security Printing Corporation since 2014, a practice previously unchallenged. He questioned the sudden scrutiny of these certificates' legitimacy after several FPCCI elections conducted without objections.

Mahmood called on FPCCI to clarify whether the requirement to purchase certificate books directly from it is mandated by statutory or regulatory provisions and if they have been uniformly applied. He also addressed the separate rejection of Muhammad Rehan Hanif’s nomination, advocating for an independent examination based on business status and membership records.

Urging regulatory intervention, Mahmood requested the DGTO and the Ministry of Commerce to review the decision under the Trade Organizations Act, 2013. He demanded a reassessment of the decision based on its legal merits and consistency in rule application across trade organizations.

KCCI expressed its intent to defend its rights through legal and regulatory channels, including approaching the DGTO, Ministry of Commerce, and possibly the courts. Mahmood called for a fair and objective review of the decision to protect the legitimate electoral rights of trade organizations.