NA body rejects criteria for women’s nomination in Congress

ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Inter-Provincial Coordination (IPC) Thursday rejected the criteria to select women’s representatives in the Congress of Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) and has formed a sub-committee headed by MNA Anjum Aqeel to dig out the truth surrounding the Normalization Committee’s misadventures.

The NA Committee meeting chaired by Muhammad Sana Ullah Khan Masti Khel also rejected ban on former PFF officials including Aamir Dogar and Naveed Haider, declaring it an act beyond the given mandate.

To look into the entire working of the NC and the decisions taken by the ad-hoc set-up for smooth transition of powers to the elected PFF, the Sub-Committee has been formed. The committee will be headed by Anjum Aqeel with Dr. Mahreen Razzaq Bhutto and Jamshed Ahmed Dasti being its members. The Director General (DG) and Deputy DG of the Pakistan Sports Board, along with independent footballer Mr. Sohaib, will assist the sub-committee.

The sub-committee will engage with PFF Congress members and review the appointment of three women members to the PFF Congress and other decisions taken by the NC enroute to free and fair PFF elections.

Haroon Malik, Chairman NC came under scathing criticism as to why Congress was not given the powers to elect women members. “Traditionally this power rests with the Congress as no individual has the power to select women’s representatives on his own liking and disliking,” MNA Syeda Shehla Raza said. Haroon said that he had selected women representatives after conducting interviews. “This is not some sort of job but the democratic right of Congress members,” one of the NA Committee members said.

Aamir Dogar who participated in the meeting on special invitation questioned Haroon Malik as to why he along with other respectable members were banned. “I was never part of any breakaway federation and was there when the Supreme Court ordered elections,” MNA Aamir Dogar said.

Dr. Mahreen Razzaq Bhutto and others raised questions as to why the elected Congress decision on the PFF president elections’ rules were rejected by FIFA. “The Congress members with more than two-third majority supported the 2014 Constitutions to elect PFF President.”

Haroon reiterated that February 15 will be his last day as NC Chairman.

“I have no intention of contesting the PFF election and do not want to stay any longer. I want to conduct the elections at the earliest,” he said. The NC chairman informed the committee that the entire election process barring the election of president has been completed and that the 22 elected congress members will oversee the next phase.