Election commission, adjudicator panel approved despite POA’s opposition

ISLAMABAD: Despite fierce opposition from the President Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) Syed Mohammad Abid Qadir Gilani, the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) Governing body has approved establishment of controversial Election Commission and adjudicator panel in total violation of the Olympic Charter that stresses on no government interference in the internal matters of sports federations.

The PSB Board meeting chaired by Minister of Inter-Provincial Coordination (IPC) Rana Sanaullah has given go ahead to the establishment of Election Commission and adjudicator panel (members will be finalised later). The Election Commission will be responsible to conduct elections of all federations from club, provincial to national level, while the Adjudicators Panel will take up all the appeals against the federations and its officials. If any athlete is penalised for indiscipline, he can take the matter to the Adjudicators Panel against the federation or its formed committee’s decision.

Such measures are in total violation of the accord with the IOC reached on June 19, 2014, in Lausanne and later confirmed by the ministry concerned in its July 3, 2019, letter whereby the government of Pakistan gave in writing commitments not to interfere in federations’ internal matters and leave it to each federation’s General Council to take up the important issues and forward those to government.

“The Government of Pakistan will follow the principle of non-interference in the organizations and entities relating to sports,” the Commitment reached with the IOC says. The clause VI of that agreement (available with The News) says: “The Government of Pakistan adheres to its Sports Policy i.e. two terms restrictions in the wake of socio-cultural situation in Pakistan and in the larger National Interest. However, we appreciate the stance of the IOC that the National Sports Federations, National Olympic Committee and the POA may be left independent to adopt this policy voluntarily and imbibe in their respective Constitutions. We will respect the decision of the General Houses of these entities and will frame our course of action in the light of such resolutions/decisions. In nutshell, no coercive measure will be used in respect of these entities to adopt the two tenure restriction.”

Since the formation of Election Commission and Adjudicators Panel is in total violation of the agreement, Pakistan sports future has been pushed into the darkness. It is now unlikely that Pakistan will go on to host the 14th South Asian Games and any other major international sports event (in case that federation approaches the international body on government of Pakistan interference in their internal matters).

The Board also approved model constitutions for federations. There are some good steps taken by the Board also which include enhancing the international medal winning purse to Rs 10 million. A gold card will also be issued to the athlete whereby he can use all sports facilities coming under PSB.

A gold medal winner at the National Games will be given Rs1 million which earlier was Rs1 lakh. The team event gold medal winners will fetch half a million rupees. The measures regarding National Games prize money however do not seem workable and were not made part of the PSB handout issued late in the evening. During the Board meeting it was decided to enhance the prize money for the National Games medal winners.

The PSB hand out adds: Furthermore, the Adoption of a Model Constitution for Federations mandates that all sports federations align their governance frameworks with the IOC Charter and the governance structures of their respective international federations. This move is expected to reinforce transparency and autonomy within sports federations across the country.

Lastly, the Revised Cash Award Policy and Gold Card Introduction were approved to encourage and reward top athletes. International gold medalists will now receive a cash reward of up to PKR 10 million.

Additionally, medal-winning athletes will be granted Gold Cards, which will allow them access to Pakistan Sports Board facilities throughout the country, providing them with enhanced support and resources.