Islamabad (TNS)– Application Filed for Membership Audit in Islamabad Chamber, Says Democrats Group
Proxy votes cannot be cast in elections under the Traders Act, said the Chairman.
We will approach the DGTO and the High Court and will eliminate the nomination clause, said the General Secretary.
On June 5, Syed Nadeem Mansoor, who is a corporate member of the Chamber, President of the Democrats Group, and a former candidate for the NA-47 National Assembly seat, stated that a single group has been controlling the Chamber for the past 40 years. According to him, elections were often not held, and family members including fathers, sons, brothers-in-law, and relatives continued occupying positions such as President, Senior Vice President, and Vice President.
He alleged that members’ fees have been spent recklessly and that there is no effective mechanism to monitor expenditures because, according to him, the current administration does not allow meaningful oversight. He further stated that monthly balance sheets are not presented to members, despite this being the legal right of every member since the funds belong to the public.
Syed Nadeem Mansoor claimed that the Chamber has effectively been “hijacked” by around 10 to 13 individuals who, according to him, primarily work for their own businesses, industries, and favored associates.
He further stated that whenever legal cases were filed, influence and connections were allegedly used to suppress legitimate concerns. However, he said that his group has continued its efforts to protect the rights of Chamber members.
According to him, the Democrats Group now commands nearly 30 percent of the vote and intends to challenge what it describes as a “dictatorial style of governance” in the upcoming elections. He said the group aims to review the conduct of the Chamber over the past 40 years and examine the processes through which former presidents assumed office, including whether any disqualifications may be warranted.
He also claimed that his group had previously won a fee-related order before the DGTO, but alleged that neither the complainant nor the DGTO was properly informed. He stated that membership fees were subsequently increased by 53 percent through what he described as a post-facto legal process involving a junior director, a move that he considers challengeable and intends to contest.
Syed Nadeem Mansoor further alleged that the Chamber’s legal framework provides extensive protections that prevent members from approaching agencies such as the FIA, NAB, or the police regarding alleged misconduct. According to him, complaints can only be taken to the DGTO, the Ministry of Commerce, or the High Court. He argued that public-money institutions should also be subject to broader accountability mechanisms.
He added that the Chamber is not fully serving the purpose for which it was established and alleged that benefits are largely confined to a select group of favored individuals, their relatives, and associates.
Explaining his reference to the FIA, he stated that visa-related complaints fall within the FIA’s jurisdiction and therefore deserve attention where applicable.
Concluding his remarks, Syed Nadeem Mansoor said that the largest concentration of Chamber members belongs to the NA-47 constituency. For that reason, he considers it his responsibility to serve the members, highlight issues of concern, and bring facts before the public and relevant authorities.
