KARACHI: The conflict between the government and Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) on the implementation of the national sports policy that rocked the country’s sports for around four years has left several problems in the provinces which are yet to be resolved.
There are several parallel associations still working at the provincial level which has direly affected the concerned sports disciplines.
The Sindh Squash Association (SSA), whose chairman is former squash legend Jehangir Khan, is not recognised by the Sindh Olympic Association (SOA).
But the same body is affiliated with the Pakistan Squash Federation (PSF).
Muzaffar Ali Shajra-led SSA, whose secretary is Amir Khan, is affiliated with the SOA but it is not owned by PSF.
In such matters POA has the legal authority to act in the light of its constitution.
In a bid to resolve the Sindh squash issue, the POA has constituted a committee which will be headed by Pakistan Table Tennis Federation’s (PTTF) president SM Sibtain.
POA secretary Khalid Mehmood, SOA secretary Ahmed Ali Rajput, squash icon Jehangir Khan and PSF secretary Amir Nawaz are its members.
The committee will meet here next month to discuss the matter. “The committee will meet on July 16 in Karachi so that the matter could be resolved,” the POA secretary Khalid Mehmood told ‘The News’.
As per POA constitution in such issues the body which is affiliated with the relevant Olympic association is given weightage.
But Sibtain said there were several things which would be thoroughly checked before reaching any conclusion. “We will consider the matter in detail before taking any decision,” Sibtain told this correspondent.
Khalid said that there were several such issues. He said that the POA would try its best to resolve these conflicts.
In Punjab two parallel table tennis associations are working. Shahid Baloch-led Punjab Table Tennis Association is recognised by the PTTF but not by Punjab Olympic Association (PbOA).
Ahmer Malik-led Punjab Table Tennis Association is affiliated with the PbOA but is not recognised by the PTTF.
In Punjab there are also parallel bodies of cycling, judo and gymnastics.
KP Judo Association which is affiliated with Syed Aqil Shah-led KP Olympic Association, is not recognised by Pakistan Judo Federation (PJF).
KP Cycling Association which is affiliated with Aqil-led KP Olympic Association is not recognised by Pakistan Cycling Federation (PCF).
The PCF recognises Nisar Khan-led KP Cycling Association. Aqil-led KP Olympic Association itself has been facing a trial.
The Balochistan Olympic Association’s (BOA) elections have not been held because of several legal issues. Two groups fought against each other in courts for a long time. However, the matters have now been settled and the BOA elections are expected to be held after Ramazan.
The new BOA will hold National Games in November, as announced by POA on Wednesday.
The BOA elections were slated to be held late May but were postponed because of legal issues. The POA has constituted an election commission for the purpose under the chairmanship of the Pakistan Volleyball Federation’s (PVF) senior official Chaudhry Mohammad Yaqoob.
FATA Olympic Association is also defunct and Khalid said its elections would be held in September or October.
The elections of FATA Olympic Association were not accepted by POA on legal grounds.
A source in the Islamabad Olympic Association (IOA) said that there was no such dispute in the federal capital. However, he was quick to add that the Chaudhry Shafiq-led IOA did not work much for the development of sports in the area. Shafiq is close to former Pakistan President General Pervez Musharraf, a source in the IOA said. He said that the IOA elections were due to be held this year.