Govt-backed officials take control of Pakistan Olympic Association office

The offices had illegally been occupied by self-proclaimed president Hasan.

LAHORE: Government-backed officials took over the Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) office on Monday, Express News reported.

POA’s Secretary Khawaja Farooq Saeed and Vice President Zafar Abbas Lak supervised the takeover today.

The POA President Akram Sahi has remained in political differences with former president Syed Arif Hasan.

On May 30, POA’s interim committee, which is backed by the government, imposed life-time bans on POA President Hasan and Secretary Khalid Mahmood, stating that the individuals were involved in many misdeeds.

Later on July 6, Major General (retd) Mohammad Sahi and Saeed were elected as president and secretary, respectively, of the parallel POA.

However, the offices of POA located in Lahore had illegally been occupied by self claimed president Hasan. The Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) had already requested District Coordination Officer (DCO) and Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Lahore to vacate the offices and hand it over to the legitimate bearers, Associated Press of Pakistan reported on August 2.