LAHORE: Levelling rigging allegations, the Lahore Businessmen Front boycotted the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) elections for the year 2021/22, a statement said.

The development on the last date for filling nomination papers practically provided a walkover to the ruling PIAF-Founders Alliance.

There are possibilities of unopposed elections on all the slots, both in the corporate and associate classes, as all the candidates are from the ruling PIAF-Founders Alliance.

As many as nine candidates filed nomination papers for eight seats of the corporate class, while eight candidates submitted papers for seven slots of the associate class. Only one nomination paper was filed for one reserved woman seat.

Mian Jabbar Khalid, Khalid Mehmood, Mian Rehman Aziz Chan, Rizwan Haider, Ahmed Elahi, Muhammad Riaz ul Hassan, Muhammad Momin Ali Malik, Tariq Mehboob and Moazzam Rasheed filed their nominations for the corporate class.

Mian Nauman Kabir, Muhammad Yousaf Shah, Chaudhry Wajid Ali, Haris Ateeq, Malik Muhammad Nadeem, Muhammad Usman, Mian Attiq-ur-Rehman and Darshan Sign have filed nomination papers for the associate class, while Shamim Akhter has submitted her nomination for the reserved seat for woman.

Talking to newsmen after boycotting the polls, Lahore Businessmen Front chairman Amjad Chaudhry accused the ruling panel of using unfair means with the help of the Election Commission and the LCCI staff for getting desired results in the polls.

The LCCI was not giving access to voters list for identifying fake votes, he said, adding that Rs25,000 fee for contesting elections was aimed at stopping ordinary members from becoming part of the democratic process.

Responding to the allegations, LCCI president Mian Tariq Misbah said that only the Directorate General of Trade Organizations and the office-bearers could be given access to the voters list as per the rules.

Flanked by the PIAF-Founders Alliance candidates and supporters, he said the Rs25,000 fee was just an excuse to boycott the elections.