NA body again asks PSB, NC to submit documents

ISLAMABAD: The officials of the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) and Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) seemed unprepared during the meeting of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Inter-Provincial Coordination (IPC) here Friday at the ministry’s offices as they failed to furnish the required documents demanded by the members during the last meeting.

The PSB could not submit the last ten years’ audit report to the committee. The members also got frustrated over the absence of Minister for IPC Rana Sanaullah and PSB Director General Yasir Peerzada.

“The committee has all the powers to issue arrest warrants of anyone failing to appear before the committee. Since we have already issued directives that only respective heads of the institutions’ presence will be accepted, we have taken serious note of the absence of both the minister and DG PSB. They must ensure their presence in the next meeting.”

Committee chairman Muhammad Sana Ullah Khan Mastikhel also directed the PSB’s officials to come up with the last ten years’ audit report in the next meeting. PFF’s Normalization Committee Chairman Haroon Malik briefed the members on the elections conducted in 141 districts of the country.

“Due to law and order situation, we could not hold the elections in some districts.” The committee chairman directed Haroon Malik to submit details in writing along with the list of all those officials, who were banned by the NC.

“The reasons behind imposing bans on these officials should also be mentioned in the written documents.” The NC chairman apprised the committee that the NC was mandated to complete the electoral process for the Pakistan Football Federation, spanning from 2021 to its culmination by December 15, 2024. He outlined the progress of district-level elections and the subsequent steps for provincial and federation-level elections.

“The committee expressed displeasure with the provided briefing as the documents were not provided to the committee members in advance.” Consequently, Haroon was directed to submit a comprehensive report on the electoral progress in both hard and soft copies within seven days. The committee also stressed the importance of transparency, adherence to deadlines, and ensuring a fair and inclusive electoral process to safeguard the future of football in Pakistan.

The meeting was attended by Anjum Aqeel Khan, Sardar Muhammad Yaqoob Khan Nasir, Dr. Mahreen Razzaq Bhutto, Muhammad Iqbal Khan, Khawaja Izhar Ul Hassan, Sayed Sami Ullah and Ms Shaista Khan along with the IPC secretary.