Sugar association chief’s election annulled over ‘violation of rule’

ISLAMABAD: The Ministry of Commerce has declared the recent election of the chairman of the Pakistan Sugar Mills Association (PSMA) central committee for the term 2024-26 null and void due to violations of election procedures and regional rotation policies.

The decision, announced on Friday, follows a complaint filed by Rizwan Ullah Khan, Chairman of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) region, who alleged that the election process did not adhere to the established rules.

The hearing took place on November 12, where both parties presented their arguments regarding the election held during the PSMA’s 59th Annual General Meeting on September 30, 2024.

According to the ruling, the election, which resulted in Faisal Ahmed Mukhtar being elected as chairman, failed to comply with Article 18(a)(iii) of the PSMA’s Memorandum and Articles of Association, which mandates a rotation policy for the chairmanship among different regions.

The KP region was supposed to nominate a candidate for the chairmanship, but objections were raised regarding the eligibility of the nominated individual, Asim Ghani Usman, who had previously served on the Executive Committee.

Trade Organisations director Ali Sufian stated that the election process was flawed, particularly noting that Usman’s actions as an acting chairman during a transitional period lacked legal standing. As a result, the ministry ordered that the election be re-conducted in accordance with the proper regional rotation policy. The PSMA is now tasked with organising a new election that complies with the rules set forth in the Trade Organisations Rules of 2013 and the association’s own regulations.