BSA, PSF at loggerheads

KARACHI: Baluchistan Squash Association (BSA) has served a legal notice to Pakistan Squash Federation (PSF), demanding the removal of Tahir Khanzada from the positions of Director Referee and Vice President.

“Elections for two vice presidents were held in Islamabad in June in total violation of Article 8 of the Constitution of PSF. The same has been done deliberately and intentionally in order to bring the persons of their own choice by Secretary PSF,” said Sher Ali Kakar, BSA chairman, in his notice.

He added that no information had been given to any one for election of two VPs, nor was it announced in any newspaper. “I was surprised to know about the elections in a meeting of Executive Committee called prior to the AGM on June 5. And no one in ECM was aware about the elections,” said Kakar.

He added that he strongly protested against the attitude of Secretary PSF when he learnt about the elections and walked out of the executive committee meeting.

He added that the way the elections for VPs were conducted and the procedure adopted were against the provision of the constitution of the federation. “It is always the prerogative of the association that they should always be informed about the election to be held at the federation level but this has not been done intentionally and deliberately this time,” he added.

Chairman BSA said this move had deprived him and other office bearers of BSA of participation in the election, which is a violation of the constitution of PSF. Also, he added, during the ECM a few points were raised by him about the so called Director Referee Khanzada but no action was taken against him.

“There is no vacancy for Director Referee as per the constitution of PSF,” said Kakar in the notice.

He added that Khanzada had completed his tenure as President Sindh Squash Association (SSA) and was no more required by the PSF as per the constitution but the PSF secretary took him on board as Director Referee and then got him elected as VP.

The BSA chairman further stated that he sent the name of a referee from Baluchistan to PSF secretary for COAS Championship recently held in Islamabad but the referee was not considered and the PSF secretary replied that BSA had to contact Director Referee in this regard.

“It seems that Secretary PSF doesn’t want BSA to participate in squash activities in the country. Secretary PSF never visited Baluchistan, which clearly shows that he has no interest in this regard. Secretary PSF is trying to make a parallel association in the province of Baluchistan. This point was brought in the knowledge of the federation many times but no action was taken by PSF against the secretary,” said Kakar.

He mentioned in the notice that during the AGM for 2016 PSF president granted Rs0.6 million to BSA on his request but when this point was brought in the knowledge of the secretary through mails and telephone his reply was very unfortunate and surprising.

“You are therefore by means of this notice hereby requested to rectify by de-seating Director Referee and Vice President who has been elected and appointed in violation of the Constitution within 15 days, failing which I would approach the court of Law for redressing of grievance of members,” stated the legal notice.

He said BSA was affiliated with PSF and the concept of the federation was to work together for the promotion of squash across the country.  This scribe tried to contact PSF secretary to seek his views but he was not available.