LAHORE: Pakistan Today’s expose on ‘visa nepotism’ inside the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) has triggered a detailed inquiry and a massive reshuffle in the delegation department of the chamber. Sources indicate that this is a bid to suppress the leakage of classified information related to foreign delegations and visa referrals. The LCCI has taken strong action on the news story appeared on Friday, December 10, 2010, albeit in the wrong direction. Instead of trying to curtail corruption and malpractice in the organisation, it has focused solely on attempting to plug any leaks within its hierarchy.
Insiders revealed that the LCCI had replaced its former Senior Vice President Sohail Lashari, who was heading delegation department and appointed Executive Committee member Mian Jabbar Khalid in his stead. Similarly, other members of the delegation department had been transferred to Research and Development (R&D) and Membership Departments, sources disclosed.
To ferret out the real culprit, who leaked the classified information the LCCI office-bearers have quietly issued orders to their trusted staff to gather call logs of mobile phones and residential telephones used by executive committee members and delegation department staff, sources claim.
It is apparent that atmosphere of mutual mistrust pervades in the corridors of the LCCI, given that the disclosures resulted from a source high up in the chain.
Furthermore, sources pointed out, amusingly that while the LCCI announced the suspension of a tour to India by its delegation, the spouses of the participants went ahead regardless. One trusts that they are now well stocked up on saris and other Indian merchandise.
However, LCCI acting President Sheikh Muhammad Arshad has denied any such inquiry is underway in the chamber. Speaking to the scribe, he acknowledged that some reshuffling in LCCI has taken place, but termed it a routine affair.
