PIAF vows to make strong comeback in next LCCI polls

LAHORE: The Pakistan Industrial and Traders Associations Front (PIAF) has vowed to reorganise its ranks and make a strong comeback in the next Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) elections, with Patron-in-Chief Mian Anjum Nisar maintaining that the group did not lose the recent contest but its mandate was “taken away”. The statement came at a PIAF Executive Committee meeting held at a local hotel under the chairmanship of Mian Anjum Nisar, where more than 200 members expressed complete confidence in the central leadership. In the LCCI Corporate Class election held on September 23, the Vision Alliance secured 13 of the 15 seats, while the PPBA Alliance won two. The provisional results showed a close contest among candidates at the lower end of the winning list, with PPBA’s Tahir Manzoor securing 1, 478 votes and Aamir Ata Barry 1, 460, while Hamza Majeed followed with 1, 455 votes. Following objections over the counting process, a recount was conducted on October 2 on the directions of the Directorate General of Trade Organisations (DGTO). The recount changed several individual vote tallies but did not alter the overall result. Tahir Manzoor’s tally increased from 1, 478 to 1, 483 votes, Aamir Ata Barry’s from 1, 460 to 1, 466, while Ali Hussam Asghar’s tally changed from 1, 700 to 1, 697. Speaking at the meeting, Mian Anjum Nisar said PIAF had contested and won numerous elections in the past and would continue serving the business community despite being in opposition at the LCCI. “We have not lost the election; the election was taken away from us, ” Nisar said, alleging that several forms of interference were visible during the electoral process. He said PIAF would prepare parallel teams ahead of the next elections to develop new leadership and ensure that the organisation did not depend on a few individuals. “There should not be only one Anjum Nisar, one Muhammad Ali Mian or one Faheem-ur-Rehman Saigol in PIAF, ” he said, stressing the need to strengthen the organisation at every level. PIAF Chairman and former LCCI President Faheem-ur-Rehman Saigol said the meeting demonstrated complete unity within the organisation. “Today the entire PIAF is united and all executive members have expressed confidence in Mian Anjum Nisar’s leadership. This is our victory, ” Saigol said. PIAF Vice Chairman Tahir Manzoor Chaudhry and former LCCI presidents Muhammad Ali Mian and Tahir Javed Malik also attended the meeting. Copyright Business Recorder, 2026

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