The PIAF-Founder Alliance, ruling over the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry since 2004, will start its campaign for elections 2011-12 by inaugurating its office on Wednesday, September 7.
The Alliance leadership, including former LCCI presidents Anjum Nisar, Shafqat Ali, Misbah ur Rehman, Muhammad Ashraf, and Iftikahr Ali, and LCCI sitting office bearers President Shahzad Ali, Senior Vice President Muhammad Arshad, Vice President Sohail Azhar, PIAF chairman Sohail Lashari, executive committee members and office bearers of the traders associations of the city markets will be attending the office opening ceremony.
The nomination papers have already been filed for the elections-2011-12, which can be withdrawn up to September 15, 2011. As per election schedule, the Election Commission will issue final list on September 16, while polling will be held on September 20 and 21 for the Corporate and Associate Classes respectively.
In the final phase, polling will be held for the office bearers including President, Senior Vice President and Vice President on September 25. Results will be announced in the Annual General Meeting on September 30. The Pakistan Industrial and Traders Association Front (PIAF) entered the Chamber politics in 1998 by winning eight seats of 'Associates Class', but could not get its office bearers elected till 2003.
However, PIAF got success when its candidate Anjum Nisar was first elected as president in 2004 as a result of an alliance between the two major groups ie PIAF and "Founders Group". Both groups developed an understanding that the presidential candidate would be introduced from PIAF and Founders Group on alternate basis.
As a result, Shafqat Ali in 2006, Muhammad Ali in 2008, and Zafar Iqbal in 2010 were elected as presidents from PIAF while Misbah ur Rehman in 2005, Shahid Hassan in 2007, Muzaffar Ali in 2009 and Shahzad Ali in 2011 led this premier chamber as presidents from "Founders Group". As Shahzad Ali, the sitting president, is from "Founders Group" it is now PIAF's turn to introduce its presidential candidate for the year 2012.
So far, the name of PIAF's former Irfan Qasier, has been finalised for the office of LCCI president, who belongs to a wel known political and business family, as his father, Qaiser Ahmad, had been president of Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry in 1987-88. He was also elected twice as member of National Assembly from Chiniot. According to Alliance circles, they are optimistic to once again maintain their success this year, mainly because of the overwhelming support from the trade bodies.