Faisalabad: Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FCCI) Election Commission has finalized arrangements and a code of conduct for the 2026-28 elections while polling for FCCI Corporate and Associate classes is scheduled for September 21 and 22 respectively.
As many as 33 candidates are in the run to contest FCCI elections for both classes and they were assured of an equal, transparent and impartial electoral process.
The code of conduct meeting was held under the supervision of FCCI Election Commission and the candidates contesting from both classes attended it.
Addressing the meeting, FCCI Election Commission Member Atif Munir Sheikh thanked FCCI President Farooq Yousaf Sheikh and his executive committee for entrusting responsibility of conducting elections with the commission. He said that the commission would make every effort to ensure that the electoral process remained free, fair, transparent and impartial.
He said that 17 candidates were contesting for Corporate Class and 16 for Associate Class.
He said that though all candidates were equally respected, yet only first 14 candidates securing the required highest number of votes in each class would be declared successful.
Polling for Corporate Class would be held on September 21 and for Associate Class on September 22 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. without interruption, he added.
He said that polling would be held in the chamber’s basement in line with previous practice while sufficient polling booths would be established to minimize waiting time for voters.
Each candidate would be allowed to nominate one polling agent while the Election Commission would make arrangements to facilitate candidates who did not appoint their own agents, he added.
He said that only contesting candidates, their authorized polling agents and secretariat staff would be allowed access to the polling area.
The commission would provide tea, coffee, water and lunch to the persons performing election-related duties there, he added.
Atif Munir Sheikh said that although the rules allowed Election Commission members to cast their votes, yet they had decided voluntarily not to exercise their right to vote in order to further reinforce the transparency and impartiality of the electoral process.
He urged the candidates to demonstrate patience, restraint and respect for all fellow contestants. He advised them to appoint responsible members of their respective classes as polling agents.
He cautioned that inappropriate conduct by a polling agent could affect the candidate’s standing and could even lead to disqualification under the applicable rules. A polling agent must also be included in the voters’ list, he added.
He said that September 15 was the last date for withdrawal of nomination papers, but no candidate had withdrawn from the contest. No objection against any candidate had also been received by the Election Commission, he added.
He advised the candidates to conduct their campaigns without making personal or derogatory remarks against opponents, saying that all contestants were being treated equally.
He said that election canvassing would be conducted outside the chamber’s main gate. The voters would bring a slip issued by their respective candidates and after verification by chamber staff, they would be provided the required polling slip for entry into the voting process.
Chaudhry Muhammad Nawaz said that no person would be allowed to enter FCCI building by carrying weapons, sticks or similar items.
The candidates would not be permitted to display banners inside the chamber although they could establish polling camps on either side of the chamber building. The chamber would provide electricity to the authorized camps, he added.
He made it clear that no unauthorized or unrelated person would be allowed into the polling area and proxy voting would not be permitted.
The Election Commission would have the authority to make an unofficial announcement of the results after completion of the vote counting, he added.
Mozammil Sultan said that the Sunday holiday had been cancelled to enable the election authorities to complete all necessary arrangements efficiently.
He also responded to questions raised by the candidates and reiterated the commission’s resolve to conduct impartial elections, saying successful completion of the process would also require cooperation from all contestants.