High-ranking officials in Karachi have already sounded the war drums against the incumbent chairman.
KARACHI: Factionalism within the Pakistan Petroleum Dealers Association (PPDA) has put the very existence of the association at risk. Due to differences between other leaders and the chief who has held the chairman’s post for over 40 years, the issues faced by dealers remain unresolved, even as dealers are already protesting for an increase in their margins on petrol and diesel. On the other hand, the factionalism within the association has split the dealers into two groups.
According to sources, attempts are being made to appoint the current chairman of the Petroleum Dealers Association, Abdul Sami Khan—who is approximately 95 years old—as the Patron-in-Chief, citing his health condition. High-ranking officials of the association in Karachi have already sounded the war drums against the incumbent chairman, and the war of words between Chairman Abdul Sami Khan and senior officials in a WhatsApp group has reached a point of extreme tension.
Sources further reveal that the current chairman, in a bid to teach the senior officials of Karachi and Sindh a lesson, has decided to hand over the chairmanship to a leader from Lahore, and a visit to Lahore is being finalized for this purpose.
Key Points of the Dispute
The Succession Rule: According to DGTO (Directorate General of Trade Organizations) rules, if the current chairman resigns from his post, the current Senior Vice Chairman of the association will take over his position, making him the strongest candidate in the race for the chairmanship.
Legal Action: Senior officials from Karachi have decided to fight a legal battle on other matters as well. According to sources, petitions will be filed with the DGTO against individuals in the 30-member committee who are ineligible to be members of the Dealers Association but are considered close aides of the current chairman.
Financial Audit Demanded: Along with this, senior officials have demanded a forensic audit of the Dealers Association’s bank accounts and cash receipts.
Background: It is worth noting that in March of this year, a dispute over the post of Senior Vice Chairman of the PPDA had also prompted a candidate to appeal to the DGTO and the Chairman for intervention.
