Karachi, The ruling Businessmen Panel (BMP) in the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) is grappling with significant internal discord as it approaches the upcoming elections. The factional split within the BMP is seen as a major challenge to its unity and effectiveness.

According to Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry, the BMP has been experiencing growing tensions, particularly among its Sindh leaders. A faction within the panel is actively working to oust BMP Chairman Anjum Nisar, capitalizing on his personal engagements to make unilateral decisions without the approval of the Core Committee. Efforts by BMP Secretary General Haji Ghulam Ali to reconcile these differences have so far been unsuccessful, raising concerns among Anjum Nisar’s supporters about the potential impact of these conflicts on the group.

In response to the internal strife, leading members of BMP have formed a new group, the Businessmen Progressive Panel (BPP), to participate in the FPCCI elections. The BPP aims to set aside the internal differences and focus on the election. The new panel includes prominent BMP figures like Khurram Ejaz, Shabbir Mansha Churra, Saquib Fayyaz Magoon, Adeel Siddiqui, and Haji Yasir.

The formation of the Businessmen Progressive Panel was officially announced in the last members’ meeting, where the decision was made to entrust the panel’s leadership to younger members. This move is seen as a shift from relying on retirees to embracing younger leadership within the group. The meeting, attended by 36 voters for the upcoming FPCCI elections and numerous supporters, concluded with the appointment of former FPCCI Vice President Khurram Ijaz and Adeel Siddiqui as coordinators. They are tasked with preparing for active participation in the FPCCI election, with a strong resolve to prevent the hijacking of the panel by those they view as having capitalist and dictatorial tendencies.