Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, May 4: In a bid to restore the effective functioning of the Federation of Chambers of Industries Kashmir (FCIK), members at a general meeting today dissolved both the existing Election Commission and the Advisory Committee.
A new Advisory Committee was constituted to oversee fresh elections and ensure continuity in leadership.
As per FCIK, the newly formed committee includes elected presidents of all industrial estate associations from the organised sector and district presidents representing the unorganised sector across Kashmir.
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The body, it said, will coordinate with outgoing president Shahid Kamili, who will continue to represent the federation until fresh elections are conducted within a mandated two-month timeframe.
The meeting, held at the FCIK headquarters, was attended by hundreds of entrepreneurs from across the Valley.
Members, federation said, raised alarm over the prolonged institutional deadlock and the absence of a functional permanent body, which they said had led to a backlog of unresolved industrial issues.
Serious concerns were also voiced over alleged constitutional violations, under-representation, and misconduct by the dissolved Election Commission-factors that had triggered court interventions and a halt to the electoral process, it said.
In response, the general body unanimously passed four key resolutions, including dissolution of the existing Advisory Committee, dissolution of the Election Commission and transfer of its records to FCIK, formation of a new Advisory Committee to oversee the transition, and a directive to initiate fresh elections under FCIK’s constitution.
The new committee, FCIK said, has been empowered to constitute a new Election Commission and may invite external observers and seek government oversight to ensure transparency.
Federation said that attempts by a few members of the dissolved Election Commission, along with their unconstitutionally appointed General and Executive Council members, to disrupt the meeting were thwarted by strong support from the majority and the presence of police.
“Fearing misuse of office premises, the new Advisory Committee resolved to hand over the keys of the FCIK office to the police until elections are held.”
The meeting began with opening remarks by former FCIK president Zahoor Ahmad Bhat, followed by industrialist Shakeel Qalander, who formally presented the resolutions for consideration.
Presidents of industrial estates present included Sheikh Nisar Ahmad (Lassipora), Iftikhar Hussain Misgar (Anantnag), Mohsin Iqbal (Vessu), Muzaffar Ahmad (Bijbehara), Abdul Raheem Sofi (Chatpora Pulwama), Aweem Irshad (Shopian), Dawood Ahmad (Rangreth), Mohammad Ashraf Mir (Burzalla), Showkat Ahmad (Shalteng), Farooq Ahmad (Zainakote), Syed Fazal Illahi (BAMK), M.Y. Techoo (Ganderbal), Mohammad Ashraf Khan (Baramulla), Javid Ahmad Bhat (Sopore), Ghulam Nabi Shah (Handwara), Mehraj-ud-Din (Kupwara), Farooq Ahmad (Rudbug Kupwara), and Ashiq Nabi Purra (Zakura).
District presidents present included Ghulam Mohammad Tramboo (Anantnag), Nazir Ahmad Mir (Pulwama), Parvaiz Ahmad Malik (Kulgam), Mohammad Imran (Baramulla), and Makhmoor Gowhar (Srinagar).
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