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Election 2010 held under usual mayhem

Monday, 01 March 2010 07:35

Another year and another AGM! Yet there was one thing common and that was the election mayhem that Abdalians have gotten used to seeing at the Annual Reunion and AGM at Cadet College Hasanabdal. This year the elections were being held under the revised Memorandum and Articles of Association recently approved in the Special Meetings held at Lahore, Peshawar and Islamabad. Although the vast majority of Abdalians did not know anything about the amendments incorporated, yet the elections on 28th February 2010 were held under the new procedures.

Dr. Faisal Manzoor of 22nd Entry was elected as the Secretary General against Dr. Afaq Hussain who belongs to the 24th Entry. This year also saw a "panel-style" election, where both candidates for the post of Secretary General had brought in their own panel of candidates for the posts of Members of the Executive Committee. Ofcourse, Dr. Faisal Manzoor's panel got the most votes out of a total of 79 votes cast in the elections.

Election Commission giving voting slips
Nayyar Khwaja, Asmat Saleem and Nayyar Islam giving voting slips to members

Members watching the stage during election mayhem

When Capt (Retd) Nayyar Islam rose to announce the elections under the revised byelaws, there erupted a huge noise in Naeem Hall shouting against the amendments in the Memorandum and Articles of Association and the way the amendments had been approved. Col. Shuja Mirza rose and addressing the office bearers informed them that a certain procedure already existed in the byelaws, which had not been followed in the case in question and accordingly the amendments were deemed to have not been carried out at all. he furtehr said that the only way the constitution of Abdalians Association can be amended is if it is put before the House at the Annual General Meeting. Engr. Jameel Malik, a former Secretary General, stood up and informed the House that the amendments carried out by the office bearers have not yet been approved by the Registar of Socities, and accordingly the amendments do not stand approved yet, as being claimed by the incumbent Secretary General.

The contentious issues related to the Membership Fee which had been increased from Rs. 1,500/- to Rs. 3,000/- and Rs. 6,000/- to be able to vote in 28th Feb '10 elections. The other issue was the ineligibility of a member to vote in the elections for a period of one year from the date of the membership. And the third issue related to the amendment whereby no decision of the outgoing office bearers could be challenged or reversed for a period of five years. The rostrum was then taken over by Syed Ashfaq Hussain, who asked the Abdalians present to calm down. After heated comments Maj. Nadir Pervez SJ took the stage and addressed the Old Boys. He was of the view that everyone who was present at the occasion should be allowed to vote. He also suggested that as it had already taken too long and the old teachers were also waiting for the Old Boys at lunch, the election process should continue after lunch.

After a sumptuous lunch which the College had arranged, the boys went back into Naeem Hall to continue where they had left the election proceedings. Once again, after a brief mayhem, Syed Ashfaq Hussain rose to announce that the amendments in the Memorandum and Articles would be held in abeyance and nominated Tariq O. Rehman to head the Election Committee, to be assisted by Dr. Afaq Hussain. He further requested the members present to continue with the elections as scheduled. He also announced to waive off the one year restriction for members to vote, provided they paid Rs. 3,000/- as membership fee. The interesting thing was that some members had already paid Rs. 6,000/- towards their membership fees, who were then told by the President to get a refund from the Association.

Upon the announcement of the President, an Election Commission was appointed immediately to be headed by Mr. Mahfooz-ur-Rehman and assisted by Mr. Misbah-ul-Hasnain, both well respected and former teachers of CCH. Asmat Saleem, Member EC, was asked to give out the voting slips, together with A/Cdr (Retd) Nayyar Khwaja. Although, the voting was to be done under a secret ballot, the names of the voters were written on hte voting slip and the counterfoil, making it not-so-secret afterall. One by one, the voter would get his slip after showing his membership and national ID cards, go behind a curtain, mark his votes, and then put it in the ballot box placed infront of Mr. Mahfooz-ur-Rehman. At around 5:30 pm, Mahfooz Sb announced the results and declared Dr. Faisal Manzoor as the newly elected Secretary General.

Comments

#5 Qaisar Manzoor 2010-03-03 14:25

\"HOBA has no say over Abdalians, but Abdalians who pay their dues may have their say in HOBA\". HOBA represents the interests of Old Abdalian, and indeed there is a track record to show that, a prime example would be the arrest of Dr Aamir Aziz by the authorities in Pakistan. It was HOBA and its relentless efforts that assured the release of him; otherwise the gentleman would be on the list of the still missing. As abdalians we de need a body that brings us together and HOBA is the only one with enough influence and political clout to do so. Furthermore I agree with Kamran Niaz that \"but Abdalians who pay their dues may have their say in HOBA\". Anyone who disagrees with this statment please come forward with a solid argument against it. If you want to make changes in the byelaws then I have a suggestion, it only takes Pk Rs3,000 to become a member and once you do it then you have every right to vote for/against any ammendment. Pay your dues and let your vote count. It is sad that almost 500 abdalians showed up at the reunion but only 80-90 of them stayed for the elections. All of the rest were free loaders/crashers. Yes they are Abdalians but with no class and vision. We must recognise the contribution of Sir Nayyar Islam to HOBA. HOBA stands tall today because of his hard work and dedication.

#4 Kamran Niaz 2010-03-01 21:40

There is a simple rule of all associations and bodies. Any amendments in the constitiun or by-laws of an association have to be presented before the General Body at the Annual General Body (AGM). And if the changes are voted in, take effect subsequently. I am Secretary of the International School in Tashkent, and all amendments in Policy, Governance, Fee Structure, etc., can not take place unless they are put in front of the AGM (the parent body) in April, no matter how much discussions and participation may have taken place earlier. So this is the way normal Associations operate/function. The office holders are not Thekaydars to change the rules- they are the guardians of the office. I think it is time to make a clear distinction, as I have mentioned in my other email, between members of HOBA and the ABDALIANS. When HOBA hosts a function, it should not and can not be an ABDALIAN get together. It is, and should be a HOBA get together, that should be open only to members in good standing who have paid their dues. HOBA may then ask them further to pay for the cost of the dinner, etc. Similarly, only HOBA members should be allowed to vote, participate, and discuss matters that pertain to HOBA. HOBA may however try to expand its membership based on its goodwill that it may promote. As for ABDALIANS they are free to associate with whatever, and freely attend the ABDALIAN get togethers and reunions, that they may organize and arrange as well as any charity projects, etc. based on a common trust between each other. HOBA has no say over ABDALIANS, but ABDALIANS who pay theiir dues may have their say in HOBA!!!! Lets make this clear distinction and promote it, so that there are no hard feelings about anything.

#3 Kamran Niaz 2010-03-01 21:23

One issue that has been raised is that only those who pay the dues/registration of the HOBA (or Abdalian Association) can be the members and therefore vote. The Abdalian reunion is for Abdalians who are Abdalians Once and For Ever! The elections for HOBA should not be mixed up with the Abdalians reunion - since it is open for all. I think there is a need to separate the two. Let all Abdalians come and participate in the reunion function - speeches, lunch, travel down the memory lane, friendly matches and so on... Then HOBA should have its closed door sessions - that would allow only the members of the Association to come in, discuss whatever issues they have and hold their elections and leave in peace. Not dragging ABDALIANS and senior teachers into it. Let ABDALIANS stay out of it, since in any case its not their business on what HOBA does, how it elects its members, etc. Can we somehow convey this to all, especially the ABDALIANS and CCH administration and somehow stick to this. All unpleasantaries that we see each year occur becuase of this HOBA/ABDALIAN debate. So lets make a very clear distinction between this.

#2 Tariq O. Rehman 2010-03-01 12:29

AoA Sir At this site the slogan is still valid :) Nobody pays a single penny to register here. But I am though grateful to some friends who pay for this site and the maintenance costs. Didn\'t the sale price drop to Rs. 3,500/- on election day? Seemed more like a Stock Exchange! Warm regards to you Sir TO

#1 Engineer Jameel Ahmad Malik 2010-03-01 11:42

Dear All Abdalians, It is for information of all Abdalians that the slogan of Abdalian once - Abdalian forever has now been changed yesterday by the HOBA and new slogan by HOBA is that Abdalian for ever is now a sale commodity for Rs. 6500/- otherwise, he cannot be an Abdalian any more. Mr. Tariq Obaid-ur-Rehman, you kindly now change your slogan of Abdalian once - Abdalian forever since nineteen hundred fifty four on the website of http://www.abdalians.com as being maintained by you. The official website of HOBA of www.abdalian.net.pk also contained this slogan Once Abdalian, Forever Abdalian - Forever Abdalian - Once Abdalian. They are also requested to kindly change it now. Anyhow, I am not quitting the HOBA. The reason is very simple one. I got registered all the Momorandum of Association from the Registrar of Societies, Islamabad as was approved by the Full House unanimously under the then President ship of Air Marshal Abbas Khattak and which contained the slogan \"Once Abdalian - Forever Abdalian.

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