Meeting summoned to resolve ban issue

Sports minister to discuss Atlas situation with PSF officials.

KARACHI: Federal Sports Minister Ijaz Hussain Jakhrani has summoned the Pakistan Squash Federation (PSF) officials and Aamir Atlas to resolve the issue of the ban that was imposed on the country’s top squash player. Atlas was handed a six-month ban by the PSF for violating its code of conduct, but the Asian Games gold-medallist has pleaded innocence.

Following the ban, Atlas threatened to play abroad after claims of being treated unfairly as the PSF defended its actions.

To resolve the issue, however, Jakhrani has summoned a combined meeting of the PSF and Atlas in which he would hear the grievances of both parties. “The minister has called for a meeting where he will hear complaints from both the PSF and Aamir,” PSF Secretary Irfan Asghar told The Express Tribune. “And we will definitely be attending the meeting to explain our actions.”

Senate’s body questions PSF on ban

Meanwhile, Asghar also explained the reasons behind the ban in a meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Sports. The meeting was held in Islamabad yesterday, and was headed by the committee’s chairman Abdul Ghaffar Qureshi.

Asghar told the body that Atlas continued to violate its code of conduct despite repeated warnings. He cited the example of the squash player misbehaving with former world champion and head coach Jansher Khan in a television show. “We should set a precedent that this kind of behaviour is not acceptable at all,” said Asghar.

He explained that the PSF was making reforms to revive the sport and strict disciplinary action was part of its effort.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 25^th, 2011.