The meeting was attended by 40 sports federations’ officials, including Pakistan Olympics Association President General Arif Hasan and Pakistan Hockey Federation chief Qasim Zia, athletics’ chief Akram Sahi, PSB Director-General Amir Hamza Gillani and Federal minister of Inter Provincial Coordination (IPC) Mir Hazar Khan Bijrani.
The decision to extend the deadline was taken keeping in mind the London Olympics that start later this month as the deadlock between the POA and the PSB also threatened Pakistan’s presence at the mega event.
“The extension has been given to avoid any controversy going into the Olympics,” an official, who was part of the meeting, told The Express Tribune. “After two months, strict action will be taken against those who don’t implement the policy. The POA will also be affected by this ruling even if their officials continue to cry that they are an independent body. The Supreme Court ruling is binding on every body.”
The official also complained that members of the IPC have vested interests and needed to finalise the matter. It has also been learnt that Hasan has told the IPC that he will step down in two months in return for the extension. Meanwhile, Sahi said that legal action will be taken against Hasan if the POA president went to the London Olympics in an official capacity.
“Hasan is no more the POA president and he can’t attend the Olympics in that capacity,” said Sahi.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 6th, 2012.
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