The Pakistan Software Houses Association (P@SHA) is facing a major leadership crisis. However, the government has quickly stepped in to restore order. Just yesterday, on June 10, the Directorate General of Trade Organizations (DGTO) officially reinstated Sajjad Mustafa Syed as the Chairman of P@SHA. This swift move comes after a messy internal dispute briefly ousted him from power.
The ‘Verbal Resignation’ Controversy
The conflict originally began during an Executive Committee meeting on May 29. Members raised serious governance concerns during the session. They argued that the meeting minutes were entirely inaccurate. Furthermore, leadership allegedly ignored objections to make the necessary corrections. Consequently, members triggered an internal dispute resolution process under Article 47 of P@SHA’s Articles of Association.
Despite this pending process, the Central Executive Committee (CEC) held another meeting on June 5. During this session, the CEC recorded that Sajjad Syed gave a verbal resignation. Therefore, they swiftly appointed Senior Vice Chairman Muhammad Umair Nizam as the Acting Chairman.
However, Syed strongly rejected these claims. He formally denied submitting any resignation, whether verbal or written. Moreover, he argued that the CEC illegally bypassed the ongoing internal dispute mechanism to remove him.
DGTO Intervenes with Strict Directives
Following Syed’s appeal, the DGTO issued a strict interim order. The regulator completely set aside the CEC’s actions and restored the status quo prior to the disputed June 5 meeting. As a result, Sajjad Syed immediately regained his position and all associated powers. Meanwhile, the order stripped Muhammad Umair Nizam of the Acting Chairman title, returning him to his original elected role as Senior Vice Chairman.
To protect institutional stability, the DGTO also implemented strict financial controls. P@SHA cannot make any extraordinary financial decisions right now. Additionally, the association cannot change banking arrangements or execute non-routine payments until regulators reach a final verdict.
Furthermore, the DGTO demanded complete transparency. The Executive Committee and the Secretary General must submit all records from the disputed meetings. This includes notices, attendance sheets, recordings, minutes, and any related correspondence. If P@SHA fails to comply, the DGTO warned of strict penalties under the Trade Organisations Act, 2013. Both parties will now present their case at a preliminary hearing scheduled for June 18 in Islamabad.
Broader Industry Fallout For P@SHA
This internal governance battle arrives at a terrible time for P@SHA. Recently, the association has faced severe criticism over its handling of industry taxation issues. Even worse, the ongoing chaos has directly impacted Pakistan’s international technology standing. Due to P@SHA’s recent mishandling, Pakistan lost the hosting rights for the prestigious ASOCIO Digital Summit 2026. Organizers have since moved the major event to Jakarta, Indonesia.
Amidst this massive fallout, P@SHA is also losing other key management figures. Sources indicate that the association’s Secretary General has formally tendered his resignation, which currently remains under review.
