ABAD chairman alleges threat by business leader, seeks impartial inquiry

ISLAMABAD: Chairman of the Association of Builders and Developers of Pakistan (ABAD) Muhammad Hassan Bakshi has alleged that senior businessman Ejaz Gohar threatened to have him arrested by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) following an exchange at the First Pakistan Economic Summit 2026 in Islamabad.

In a formal letter dated Sept 8 and addressed to United Business Group (UBG) Patron-in-Chief S.M. Tanvir, Mr Bakshi described the incident as an “unpleasant” episode that occurred at the Convention Hall shortly after a panel discussion.

A copy of the letter available with this correspondent says Mr Bakshi approached Mr Gohar as a mark of respect. S.M. Tanvir, Hanif Gohar and a number of journalists were also present, according to the letter.

Mr Bakshi alleged that during the conversation, Mr Gohar asked him to hand over the ABAD chairmanship to Punjab and make Nabeel the organisation’s chairman.
According to the letter, Mr Bakshi responded that ABAD elections were due in September and that anyone was free to submit nomination papers and contest the election.

He further alleged that Mr Gohar subsequently suggested that the chairmanship be rotated between Punjab and Sindh, with one term going to each province.
Mr Bakshi said he responded by referring to what he described as similar discussions regarding the presidency of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI), and questioned the idea of rotating leadership positions on a provincial basis.

The letter quotes Mr Gohar as subsequently telling Hanif Gohar that he would see who became FPCCI president from Karachi, while Mr Bakshi would become FPCCI president from Punjab.
Alleged FIA threat
Mr Bakshi has made a more serious allegation concerning the events that followed.
He said that a few people, whom he believed to be reporters, approached him and informed him that Mr Gohar intended to have him arrested by the FIA at the airport.
According to the letter, around 20 minutes later Hanif Gohar, a former senior vice president of FPCCI, also repeated the warning. Mr Bakshi said Hanif Gohar told him that he had questioned Ejaz Gohar about what wrong Mr Bakshi had said.
Mr Bakshi said he replied that Mr Gohar could do whatever he wanted and that he was not afraid of threats.
He said he chose not to create a scene at the summit out of respect for his host, S.M. Tanvir, and in order to prevent divisions within the business community.

Call for inquiry
Mr Bakshi has now sought an impartial inquiry into the matter, saying that an independent committee of businessmen could establish the facts.
He said he was prepared to appear before such a committee alongside the other party and suggested that Hanif Gohar could be called as a witness.

“Furthermore, the relationship between our two families goes back more than six decades,” the letter states. “If members of the business community are to be treated in this manner, then it would be better for us to go our separate ways, because nothing is more important than mutual respect.”

Mr Bakshi said he had already verbally informed several business leaders about the incident, including former FPCCI senior vice president Khalid Tawab, FPCCI Senior Vice President Saquib Fayyaz Magoon, Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Muhammad Rehan Hanif and former ABAD chairman Mohsin Sheikhani.
The letter was also copied for information to Federal Minister for Privatisation Abdul Aleem Khan, former federal minister Khawaja Saad Rafique, Arif Habib, Aqeel Karim Dhedhi, FPCCI President Atif Ikram Sheikh and other senior business leaders.

When contacted, Mr. Ejaz Gohar shared his version of events.

He said, “I have great respect for every individual and always speak to people with kindness. I have great affection for Karachi, two generations of my family are from Karachi.”

Clarifying the exchange, he said it was Mr. Hassan Bakshi who remarked that when new provinces are created, the slot of Prime Minister should be given on a rotational basis, to which he replied, “Don’t say such things, or the FIA might pick you up at the airport.”

On the issue of rotation, Mr. Gohar added, “All major associations give their central chairmanship on a rotation basis between North and South zones. The FPCCI gives its presidency to all provinces irrespective of the number of members. ABAD, which has more members from Karachi, is to my knowledge the only large association that does not give rotation to other zones. Anyone who links giving rotation in ABAD to the North Zone with rotating the Prime Minister’s slot among provinces should not be taken seriously.”