Leaders of 'The Founders' have accused the Secretary Lahore Chamber of Commerce & Industry (LCCI) for playing a partial role in the electioneering process.
They have urged the Commerce Minister, Commerce Secretary and Director Trade Organisation (DTO) to take note of what they said pre-poll rigging.
Addressing a joint press conference at the Lahore Press Club (LPC) here on Thursday, Opposition leader in the LCCI Tahir Manzoor Chaudhry, Javed Hussein Dar and others alleged that the scrutiny committee, headed by Secretary LCCI unlawfully and deliberately rejected the nomination papers of their candidate Ghulam Mohyuddin Dewan and his covering candidate Muhammad Saleem Shah for Trade Group.
Tahir blamed the LCCI Secretary for misusing his powers. Lamenting he said that the Secretary LCCI who is prejudice in the election process, did not consider the facts and unlawfully rejected the nomination papers.
Giving example of irregularities and illegalities, he pointed out that the Secretary not only accepted the nomination papers of Muhammad Yousaf Shah and Khawaja Shah belonging to the ruling alliance but also allowed them to contest the election contrary to the rules and regulations.
He further pointed out that the name of Muhammad Yousaf Shah is not included in the voters' lists while Khawaja Shahid has not yet been granted LCCI membership.
It is pertinent to mention that two candidates out of them have also contested LCCI election last year with the same signatures.
There is no precedent of rejection of papers on this plea in the LCCI history, he maintained.
He further revealed that The Founders has already raised its objection against the nomination paper of Faisal Iqbal Sheikh.
This candidate is son of Shaikh Muhammad Iqbal who is sole proprietor of Iqbal and Company bearing number 8684-A according to the LCCI list issued on July 30.
The change of representative of company for the purpose of casting vote could be made till August 16, 2004.
However, permission of change of representative is restricted to only director or partner of the company, he added.
Faisal Iqbal Shaikh who executed partnership deed resulting in change of status of company must complete a period of one year to become legitimate voter but he is not eligible to contest the election, he maintained.
He urged the authorities to take note of the irregularities and illegalities being committed by the LCCI management on behest of ruling alliance.