GUJRAT, Nov 17: A civil court of Gujranwala on Monday issued stay orders to restrict the election commission of the Pakistan Electric Fan Manufacturers Association (PEFMA) from holding elections for the offices of chairman and vice-chairman of the association till further orders and summoned all the parties concerned on Nov 24.

Haji Ghulam Rasool, a fan manufacturer from Gujranwala, had filed a suit with civil judge Nadeem Anwar against the election process of PEFMA. According to the petitioner, gross irregularities were committed by the election commission to restrict the members from Gujranwala from participating in the election process on the behest of a certain group.

The last date for the submission of applications for the slots of chairman and vice-chairman was Nov 17 whereas elections are scheduled to be held on Nov 19.

The election commission had rejected all the applications of 24 candidates from Gujranwala for the executive committee and some candidates had also filed petitions with the office of director trade organisation (DTO), Islamabad, against the election process.

The DTO has summoned the incumbent chairman and the election commission of PEFMA on Nov 22 to hear the petitions.