Memon Leadership Forum Elects New Officials at Successful Two-Day Summit in Kenya

By: Aziz Khatri

  Karachi: The second Memon Leadership Forum (MLF) concluded triumphantly in Kenya's coastal city of Mombasa, with over 65 members from 16 chapters, senators, parliamentarians, chamber presidents, and local-international guests uniting to elect leadership for the next term until December 31, 2027.

In a key highlight, Abdul Rahim Jano was elected President, Hamza Tabani as General Secretary, alongside Senior Vice President Sir Iqbal Scryani, Vice President Dr. A.W. Muhammad, Joint Secretary Iqbal Khemisani, Media Secretary Iqbal Advani, and Treasurer Muhammad Rafiq Khanani. All 15 chapter chairmen were re-elected, with Imtiaz Sulaiman taking Europe, Mrs. Zahida Tawfiq Ahmad leading the USA, and Abu Bakr Hamdani heading South Africa. Two new chapters were launched, and a resolution was passed to complete the 60-member central council within two weeks via chapter nominations.

The event wrapped with a gala dinner and musical show hosted by the East Africa chapter, masterminded by council member and founder Rafiq Sulaiman, for seamless arrangements. Speaking to the media, Rafiq Khanani from the Mozambique chapter congratulated Sulaiman and the Kenya team: "MLF acts as a bridge for the Memon community, uniting people from diverse nations."

Newly elected President Abdul Rahim Jano praised the forum's growth since 2019, when a four-member team—including himself, a Bangladeshi, and two South Africans—dreamed of its formation. Now spanning 55 countries with 13 chapters, MLF held its first Karachi conference in 2020 to empower Memons worldwide, foster youth leadership, and strengthen bilateral ties through business networking for economic uplift. "We're advancing youth and B2B meetings to build better relations," Jano said, noting Karachi's exemplary role in Sindh.

MLF Chairman Akhtar Yunus Arif highlighted community perks like health cards for free treatment at 90 hospitals. Kenya Chapter Chairman Rafiq Sulaiman emphasized the international conference's aim to blend old and young leaders, targeting 30-40-year-olds for handover: "Results will show in the next decade." Dynamic leader Hamza Hamdani echoed the focus on uniting the Memon brotherhood, especially by propelling young talent to serve their community effectively.

This gathering reinforces MLF's mission of global support, leadership development, and economic harmony for the Memon diaspora, inspiring continued collaboration across borders.