LAHORE: A senior member of the Pakistan Sugar Mills Association (PSMA) has approached the prime minister, raising concerns over what he calls an “unlawful change” in the association’s leadership, and alleging violations of regulatory and constitutional provisions.
In a formal complaint, PSMA’s Sindh Zone leader Rizwanullah Khan claims that the association’s recently elected central chairman, Zaka Ashraf, assumed office without following the procedures outlined in the Trade Organisations Rules, 2013, and the PSMA’s own articles of association. The letter urges the prime minister to take notice of what the complainant terms a “blatant violation of law and due process,” asserting that the actions have undermined the PSMA’s legitimacy and risk compromising its dealings with government institutions.
The core of the issue revolves around the Executive Committee led by Zaka Ashraf, which is reportedly holding meetings with the deputy prime minister and the minister for national food security and conducting all affairs of the PSMA allegedly without lawful authority.
This, per the complaint, is occurring despite a ‘modified interim order’ issued by the Directorate General of Trade Organizations (DGTO) on May 13, 2025, which restricts expenditures to essential activities only -- such as employee salaries and routine operational costs.
According to the complaint, the PSMA conducted its last official election in November 2022, supervised by a legally constituted Election Commission comprising representatives from all zones.
The complaint further alleges that, without holding new elections for the 2023-24 term, Ashraf’s group appointed a backdated chairman and conducted elections after the stipulated time period had expired. Rizwanullah contends this violated Article 18(v) of the Articles of Association and Rule 18(2)(f) of the Trade Organisations Rules, 2013, which require a 15-day notice period for elections and a minimum 50 per cent quorum in the general body.
Rizwanullah maintains that the previous election cycle was completed in accordance with law, with the Election Commission’s report formally submitted to the Director General of the Directorate General of Trade Organisations (DGTO), attaining finality under Rule 19(4). He argues that no parallel election could be held without the DGTO’s direction to reconstitute the Election Commission.
The complaint also challenges Zaka Ashraf’s eligibility under Rule 15(5)(e) of the 2013 Rules, which disqualifies any individual who has completed two terms as an office bearer in a trade body. Rizwanullah claims that Ashraf’s assumption of office despite these restrictions has created an unlawful situation and calls on the government to disassociate the Ashraf-led group from representing PSMA.
When approached for comment, Ashraf rejected the allegations, saying: “These are baseless and without merit. I was elected unopposed after elections were not held for two years.”
Asim Ghani Usman, a senior PSMA official, also defended recent developments. He claimed that the previous elections were flawed and that a nominee had been rejected for holding simultaneous positions, prompting the general body to intervene and conduct a new vote to restore the association’s constitutional functioning.
Asim Ghani Usman, former chairperson of PSMA, observed that the previous elections had issues concerning eligibility. He noted that Iskander Khan’s nomination was rejected because he was already serving as chairperson of the KPK chapter, rendering him ineligible. Following this, a chairperson was appointed with a backdated notification, which was also improperly executed. Subsequently, an AGM and the general body elected another chairperson.
A member, speaking on condition of anonymity, expressed concern that the Zaka Ashraf-led panel had disregarded established rules and procedures of the association. Another senior member expressed his candid view, saying there is no doubt about the illegality committed by the current ruling group of PSMA, which he said is violating not only the association’s constitution but also the directives of other institutions with complete impunity.
