Islamabad, October 18, 2026: The Ittihad Group of the Pakistan Flour Mills Association (PFMA) Punjab has alleged pre-poll rigging and forgery ahead of the association’s elections scheduled for October 24, demanding transparent polling arrangements and the restoration of three polling stations.
In a joint statement, PFMA Punjab Vice Chairman Sheikh Ejaz, Group Leader Chaudhry Masood, Chaudhry Iftikhar Sandhu and other senior members alleged that the ruling Awaz Group, which they claimed had remained in control of the association for the past 16 years, was attempting to deprive members of their voting rights and secure victory through bogus votes.
They said holding elections at a single polling station in Lahore would create difficulties for flour mill owners from other cities and restrict their ability to participate in the electoral process.
Sheikh Ejaz said the Ittihad Group had submitted an application to the Directorate General of Trade Organizations (DGTO), following which the authority ordered the establishment of three polling stations in Lahore, Multan and Rawalpindi for the October 24 elections.
However, he alleged that the Awaz Group, citing a lack of funds and through alleged collusion, managed to get the DGTO’s decision withdrawn, resulting in the elections being restricted to Lahore.
He warned that the arrangement would cause inconvenience to mill owners travelling from Rawalpindi, Multan and other distant areas, potentially leading to lower voter turnout.
Sheikh Ejaz added that if financial constraints were the reason for withdrawing the three-polling-station arrangement, the Ittihad Group was willing to bear all expenses associated with establishing the additional polling stations.
The Ittihad Group leaders urged the DGTO to reinstate its earlier decision, ensure that all eligible members were included in the voter list, investigate their allegations of attempts at bogus voting and appoint election observers to ensure a transparent electoral process.
The allegations against the Awaz Group have not been independently verified.
