FAISALABAD, Sept 20: A tough contest is expected for the top slots and group seats of the Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FCCI) in its annual elections scheduled to be held from 27th to 29th of this month.

Sharp differences have also been witnessed among the leading industrialists for the polls as four strong candidates are trying their utmost to muster the support of members for the president slot. Neck-on-neck fight is also expected for the posts of members of trade and industry classes as well as senior vice-president and vice-president slots.

Sitting President Mian Aftab Ahmed and Vice-President Tahir Mehmood Sheikh are also launching their separate campaigns and trying to clinch the top slot for their favourites. Renowned industrialist Mian Muhammad Idrees and two other aspiring candidates are also mustering the support of local yarn market pundits.

However, two strong groups, consisting of members from the small industries and trade circles, have launched their separate campaigns this time and may upset the results.

For the four seats of trade class, 12 members - Ayub Sabir, Nadir Ali, Malik Masood, Rasheed, Ashraf, Mian Sharif, Muhammad Islam, Talaat Mehmood, Shahzad Johri, Farzand Ali, Niaz Ahmed, and Kashif Saleem have filed nomination papers. Twelve other candidates - Abdul Farooq, Muhammad Idrees, Sheikh Tariq Aziz Shahid, Farooq Ahmed, Chaudhry Yousaf, Muhammad Saleem, Muhammad Ashraf, Shaheed Tabassum, Muhammad Ashraf, Talib Hussain, Abdul Qayyum, and Mian Muhammad Hanif have submitted papers for the industry class.

However, Mohsin Saleem Raza has been elected member of the group class unopposed. It may be mentioned here that nine members of the executive committee are going to complete their three-year tenure during this month and they will be replaced with new members through elections.

Polls for industry and trade classes will be held on Sept 27 and 28th respectively. Votes for the president slot will be cast on Sept 29. The FCCI insiders revealed that some influential candidates were trying to capture top slots of the president, senior vice-president and vice-president by dint of their wealth.