KARACHI: Representatives of different markets associations across Karachi, while completely rejecting the allegations against Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) by so-called Karachi Tajir Ittehad, termed all these allegations as ‘totally baseless’ and said that they were, they are and they will remain fully united under the umbrella of KCCI. Speaking at a meeting organized by All Karachi Anjuman-e-Tajiran Ittehad (AKATI), small traders of Karachi unanimously supported KCCI’s decision pertaining to extending shops/ markets closing timings by two hours up to 9pm with an additional leniency period of one more hour for shopkeepers to completely shut down their business premises by 10pm. The meeting was attended by All Karachi Anjuman-e-Tajiran Ittehad President Rafiq Jadoon, Traders Welfare Association President Tariq Road Muhammad Aslam Bhatti, AKATI General Secretary Muhammad Ilyas Memon, All Beeri Manufacturers Association President Saifur Rehman, Mithadar Merchants Association President Naeem Akhter Zaki, All Sindh Lubricants Dealers Association Founder Chairman Tariq Awan, Noorani Welfare Association President Abdul Hameed Baadla, representative of Quaidabad-Landhi-Malir markets Javed Arsalan Khan, representative of Babar Market Landhi Rashid Ali Shah, AKATI Joint Secretary Abdul Jabbar, representative of Garden Markets Asif Shahzad, representatives from Aiwan-e-Tijarat Road Khurram Saigal and Latif Sanghiane, representatives of Saddar Alliance of Markets Association Ashraf Motalani, Arif Quettawala and Naseem Yousuf, representatives of Kaghazee Bazaar Sikandar Dupattaywala and Saleem Siraj, representative of Motandas Market Nasir, representative of Jama Cloth Market Irshad and others. The meeting participants, while strongly condemning the recent statements, said that the deceitful elements behind such misleading statements have established Tajir ittehads, alliances and business forums etc., which were totally illegal and they have established these platforms with an only intention, to get cheap publicity. They said that there was a time when these elements gave statements pertaining to supporting strike calls by a political party but nowadays, as the situation has completely changed and the Sindh government along with law enforcement agencies have expressed firm resolve not to allow any strikes in Karachi, these Tajir Ittehads and alliances find no other option to get cheap publicity but to somehow sabotage the image of Karachi chamber by giving misleading and baseless statements. They will not succeed in attaining their filthy objectives as small traders remain fully united at Karachi Chamber which has been effectively raising since last two decades under the leadership of Chairman Businessmen Group and Former President KCCI Siraj Kassam Teli, they added. AKATI meeting participants reiterated that the only intention of these fake Ittehads and alliances was to get cheap publicity as they neither have done anything beyond this, nor have the capacity to do anything hence, the media must act responsibly and discourage such elements for the sake of retaining their credibility. They said that Karachi Chamber was the only institution which has been actively raising voice for the rights of small traders under Businessmen Group’s clear policy of ‘Public Service’ which has resulted in restoring the confidence of entire business and industrial community, particularly small traders. They said that these so-called Ittehads and Alliances, who claim to represent Small Traders, were not working in the interest of business community but with an only intention to somehow stay alive in the media. Small traders were fully aware about the activities of such conspirators and were also well acquainted with the truthfulness, honesty and strength of Karachi Chamber, which enjoys the unconditional support of 95 percent of small traders. They said that it was a matter of satisfaction that Karachi Chamber’s Office Bearers have been working round the clock to resolve the grievances of small traders and the same has been proven from time to time, particularly during difficult times. Referring to the calls of sit-in outside Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry by these elements, they said that such elements will have to face severe resistance from thousands of KCCI’s supporters who will not allow anyone to sabotage KCCI’s image which has been built after two decades of strenuous efforts by BMG leadership and KCCI office bearers from time to time.