Ministry of Commerce upholds LCCI election decision, dismisses appeals over alleged irregularities
By Commerce Reporter
ISLAMABAD – The Secretary, Ministry of Commerce, has upheld the decision of the Regulator of Trade Organizations, dismissing appeals filed by Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) members Muhammad Amjad Chaudhary and Mian Adil Mehmood regarding alleged irregularities in the LCCI elections.
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The appellants had challenged Order No. 60/2024, dated October 24, 2024, issued by the Regulator (DGTO), raising concerns over several electoral discrepancies, including the absence of an Election Commission member, inconsistent ballot paper stamps and signatures, and mishandling of ballot paper accounts.
However, in its findings, the appellate authority noted that while some irregularities were pointed out, they were not consistent or of a scale to impact the entire electoral process. It emphasized that the appellants participated in the election without raising objections during voting, which weakened their claim of any significant material impact.
<span;>Moreover, the Election Commission’s active role in managing and overseeing the election—including issuing directions for ballot printing and appointing polling officers—was seen as evidence that the process was largely supervised and regulated.
The Secretary also observed that the appellants failed to provide any documented objections raised during the elections. The Regulator had already addressed concerns through a recounting mechanism that included clear procedural guidelines.
In conclusion, the Ministry upheld the Regulator’s order and instructed the Secretary General of LCCI and the Election Commission to strictly follow recounting guidelines. The appeals were formally dismissed.
The hearing was conducted on April 25, 2025, at the Ministry of Commerce in Islamabad and was attended by multiple legal counsels representing both the appellants and respondents.
