The Chairman of the Pakistan Software Houses Association (P@SHA), Sajjad Mustafa Syed, has been reinstated following an internal governance dispute, after the Directorate General of Trade Organizations (DGTO) suspended the association’s decision to remove him and restored the status quo.
In an interim order issued on June 10, 2026, the DGTO set aside actions taken by P@SHA’s Central Executive Committee (CEC) that had treated an alleged verbal resignation as valid and subsequently appointed Senior Vice Chairman Muhammad Umair Nizam as Acting Chairman.
The regulator noted that Sajjad Syed had formally denied submitting any resignation, whether verbal or written, and challenged the CEC’s decision, stating that the move was taken during an ongoing internal dispute resolution process.
According to the order, the dispute arose from governance concerns raised regarding an Executive Committee meeting held on May 29, 2026, in which the minutes were allegedly disputed for failing to accurately reflect the deliberations. The complainant argued that corrections were not made despite objections from members.
The DGTO observed that another meeting held on June 5, 2026, proceeded despite the pending internal dispute resolution mechanism under Article 47 of P@SHA’s Articles of Association. During this meeting, it was recorded that the Chairman had verbally resigned, a claim he has strongly rejected.
Restoring the position prior to the disputed meeting, the DGTO suspended the decision that had declared the Chairman’s office vacant and reinstated Sajjad Syed with immediate effect, along with all associated powers and responsibilities.
The order also invalidated subsequent actions, including the appointment of an Acting Chairman. Muhammad Umair Nizam will continue to serve only in his elected role as Senior Vice Chairman.
To ensure regulatory compliance and protect institutional stability, the DGTO directed that all extraordinary financial decisions, changes to banking arrangements, and non-routine payments be withheld until the matter is conclusively decided.
The regulator further instructed P@SHA’s Executive Committee and Secretary General to submit complete records of the disputed meetings, including notices, attendance sheets, minutes, recordings, and all correspondence related to the alleged resignation and leadership changes.
A preliminary hearing has been scheduled for June 18, 2026, in Islamabad. The DGTO warned that non-compliance with its directives may result in penalties under the Trade Organisations Act, 2013.
The dispute comes amid broader criticism of P@SHA’s recent handling of industry issues, including its stance on taxation and preparations for the ASOCIO Digital Summit 2026, which was originally scheduled to be hosted by Pakistan but has since been moved to Jakarta, Indonesia.
Sources told ProPakistani that the association’s Secretary General has tendered his resignation, which remains under review.
