Interim committee ‘bans’ POA chief

Official sanctioned for failing to follow National Sports Policy.

KARACHI: The Pakistan Olympic Association’s (POA) interim committee, which is backed by the government, has imposed life-time bans on POA President Arif Hasan and Secretary Khalid Mahmood, raising fresh concerns about a possible ban on the country by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

The issue has lingered on for several months where the National Sports Policy has called for a removal of officials who have already served two four-year terms. However, the POA maintained that no such policy affected them as they abide by the IOC charter.

The rift aggravated and despite pressure from all parties, Hasan did not step down as POA chief. As a result, the interim committee decided to impose a ban on Hasan in a meeting held at the Roshan Khan Squash Complex in Islamabad under the chairmanship of Mohammad Asif Bajwa yesterday.



The press release issued by the interim committee read, “The House, taking serious notice, resolved to ban Syed Arif Hasan and Muhammad Khalid Mahmood for life in holding any office in any sports organisation at any level at home and abroad.”

Secretary Interim Committee of the POA, Rana Mujhaid, also announced that the 32nd National Games will be held from June 28 to July 3.

‘Ban to only affect Arif’

When key officials of the interim committee were contacted about the decision and its repercussion, one official said that the only ones affected by the ban would be Arif and Mahmood.

“Even if the IOC sanctions Pakistan, it will only affect Arif. He’s the one who has been making complaints against the government,” the official told The Express Tribune.

“New elections of the POA will be held and a new body will be formed to look after sports affairs.”  The official informed that Arif tried to ‘create disharmony by encouraging parallel sports federations to stand up and create a crisis but failed in his attempts’.

Arif vows to continue

Arif said the interim committee had no authority to ban POA officials.

“The interim committee — who are they to ban us?” said Arif. “The interim committee is itself illegal. It’s flirting with danger and is only endangering Pakistan’s position with the IOC. The international body will take notice of this and we’ll have to wait and see how it reacts. For now I’ll continue working in my capacity as I’ve been over the years.”

Published in The Express Tribune, May 30^th, 2013.