PSB meeting implements Supreme Court’s orders |
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23-Jan-2013
The Nation
Imposed ad hoc body on POA | Declares National Games held in Lahore null and void | Announces to hold Games in April at Islamabad By: Mohsin Ali | January 09, 2013 ISLAMABAD - Pakistan Sports Board has debarred Gen Arif Hasan and suspended him from presidentship and imposed ad hoc committee on Pakistan Olympic Association on Tuesday.
The decision was announced after a meeting held under the chair of Federal Minister for IPC Malik Azmat Khan on Tuesday for violating the Supreme Court orders regarding holding of office for the third term. An inside source also confirmed on condition of anonymity that the PSB lawyer had told them not to hold meeting, as it would be a clear violation of court orders but his advice fell on deaf ears.
The PSB meeting was unconstitutional as the quorum was not completed, presidents of boxing, squash, badminton, skiing and bodybuilding were not present on the occasion and non-concerned persons were invited for the meeting, just to fill the vacant seats.
Gen Arif and POA officials were invited to attend the meeting but they didn't bother to turn up. A seven-member ad hoc body under the chair of Pakistan Basketball Federation president Asif Bajwa was formed to ensure smooth functioning of POA and with the directive to hold free and fair elections in April. It was also decided that the 32nd National Games, which were earlier held in Lahore, were declared null and void, as majority of federations didn't participate in the event. The Games would now be held in Islamabad in April. PSB Director General Amir Hamza Gilani, Secretary IPC, PHF President Qasim Zia, Pakistan Athletics Federation President Gen (retd) Akram Sahi also attended the meeting while around 40 representatives of different federations were also present on the occasion.
The meeting with the backing of absolute majority also announced to implement the Supreme Court decisions in true letter and spirit regarding third term and the federations who didn't comply with the rules would not be given any grant while no NOCs will be issued to them for their participation in international events. It was also decided to appoint an ad hoc committee forthwith to run POA affairs till April.
Asif Bajwa named as committee head while Shah Nawaz Murree (Balochistan), Senator Ghulam Ali (KPK), Mudassar Arian (Sindh), Rana Mujahid (Punjab), Col Zafar (Islamabad), Col Qaiser Mustafa (Services) and Zafar Lak (Departments) have been named its members. A Sports Tribunal will be formed to settle disputes among the federations and to review all the legal aspects within one month time and to enhance annual grants of the federations.
Talking to The Nation, Secretary IPC Fareed Ullah Khan said they extended invitation to POA to attend the meeting but they declined to attend as they wanted to end politics from sports and to ensure selection of players on merit.
It is pertinent to mention here that Pakistan Sports Board held the meeting in violation of Supreme Court orders as POA review petition was already lying in the apex court that ordered to maintain status quo till further orders. Meanwhile, Pakistan Football Federation has also managed to take stay order from Lahore High Court against holding of any such meeting, despite receiving the orders, PSB decided to go ahead with the proposed meeting
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