Time running out for NC to conduct free and fair PFF elections

ISLAMABAD: Time is running out for the Normalization Committee (NC) of Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) to hold free and fair elections for which the whole fraternity of the game has been waiting for almost six years now.

The NC has changed the date of the PFF Extraordinary Congress meeting from January 23 to January 24 on the pretext that Congress members may be required for one-on-one meeting with the FIFA officials (online).

‘The News’ has learnt that the elected provincial bodies will hold meetings through Zoom with the FIFA representatives on January 22 possibly more to discuss the formalities involved to hold free and fair PFF elections in days to come.

Haroon Malik-led NC was constituted on January 19, 2021 (for over four years now). Previously the other set of the NC also stayed in power for almost two years. Surprisingly, no real headway was made on a simple mandate given to the NC and that was to conduct free and fair PFF elections during the last five and half years.

It was only during the last six months that the Electoral College started taking shape. Barring the election of three women’s representatives the composition of Congress is complete. Well informed sources told The News that FIFA representatives expected meeting with the provincial associations’ elected members may revolve around making necessary changes in the Constitution to enable the Congress members’ contest the election without any hitch and as to which criteria should be followed to elect three women Congress members.

The tradition has been to conduct women representatives’ elections through Congress members. The last Congress meeting held in November was postponed after the NC Chairman developed differences with the Congress members on the criteria to conduct women representatives’ elections. Hopefully, a traditional system would be followed to elect women Congress members.

“Now when the Congress has been constituted, all the decisions must be taken with the consent of the members. After all these members are to run the PFF till the time the next elections will be conducted.

The NC will cease to exist from February 15, which will be the last day in office unless and until the committee seeks yet another illogical extension. Now when the Congress is constituted, there is hardly a reason for further delay,” one of the Congress members, when asked, said.