ASF appoints Tahir as Director Referee

KARACHI: Asian Squash Federation (ASF) has appointed controversial Tahir Khanzada of Pakistan as Director Referee.

According to ASF’s magazine Squash Pulse (Issue VIII/ APR, 2017), Munir Shah stepped down as the ASF Referees Director in the 37th AGM of ASF after serving for 30 years.

Tahir has been elected as Referees Director for 2017-2021. But this decision of ASF did not go down well with the local squash fraternity. Tahir was recently elected Vice President of Pakistan Squash Federation (PSF) but his election  was challenged by Chairman Balochistan Squash Association (BSA) Sher Ali Kakar.

Civil judge Quetta issued a stay order against Tahir’s positions as Vice President and Director Referee at PSF.

Kakar had earlier sent a legal notice to PSF showing concerns over the election of vice presidents and demanded the removal of Tahir from the positions of Director Referee and Vice President.

Kakar stated that the elections held in June 2016 were in violation of Article 8 of the Constitution of PSF. BSA has long been demanding action against Tahir for ignoring referees from Balochistan in national and international events.

“There is no vacancy for Director Referee as per the constitution of PSF,” said Kakar in the notice, adding that he sent the name of a referee from Balochistan to PSF secretary for COAS Championship held in Islamabad but the referee was not considered and the PSF secretary replied that BSA had to contact Director Referee in this regard.

Moreover, Sindh Squash Association (SSA) secretary Amir Khan sent a 10-day legal notice to PSF secretary and asked him to stop “patronage of fake SSA” and Tahir who “despite being involved in financial irregularities and misappropriation of funds” is holding three offices.

The election of Tahir sparked a controversy as one of the members of general body and executive committee of PSF strongly opposed the election and boycotted the PSF’s AGM and the Executive Committee meeting.

It is worth adding here that Tahir has been deposed from the president-ship of Sindh Squash Association (SSA) but he formed a new association, which is not recognised by Sindh Olympic Association (SOA) and Sindh Sports Board (SSB).

Tahir was accused of financial irregularities and misappropriation of funds during his tenure as president of SSA. The selection of Tahir by PSF has been considered against the constitution of PSF, and national sports policy.

‘The News’ sought comments from ASF Secretary General Duncan Chiu, but he did not reply to the email.