Minister may quit over Ganjera’s suspension

KARACHI: The federal minister for Inter-Provincial Coordination (IPC) Riaz Pirzada has been deeply saddened by the suspension of Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) Director General Dr Akhtar Nawaz Ganjera and is expected to resign.

Sources told ‘The News’ on Thursday that Pirzada had been upset by the issue and he might resign if the Prime Minister did not listen to him.

“He almost sent his resignation today. He was furious,” a source close to the minister said.

Sources said that Pirzada was unhappy with the interference in the affairs of his ministry.

This correspondent tried to contact Pirzada several times but he did not receive the calls. The establishment division on the instructions of the Prime Minister’s Secretariat on Wednesday suspended Ganjera at a time when the Board is to hold the second edition of the Quaid-e-Azam Inter-Provincial Games in Islamabad from May 5-9. It also has to send a 200-member Pakistan’s contingent to Baku for Islamic Games, slated to be held from May 12-22.

However, sources said that the PM might give time to Pirzada.

Ganjera on Thursday received the suspension order. An inquiry will be initiated against him. However, it is not known under what charges he has been suspended. Ganjera has been suspended for three months. Ganjera was suspended in the past for his alleged involvement in corruption but the Supreme Court had reinstated him.

The sources also said that different quarters were trying to bring in their own man in place of Ganjera.

The sources said that in the absence of Ganjera the Board may face severe problems in organising the Inter-Provincial Games for which Rs149 million has been approved. So far, only Rs50 million has been released.

Meanwhile, a source involved in handling the affairs of Inter-Provincial Games said that the Games were likely to be postponed.

“With the suspension of Ganjera, things have stopped. It will be confirmed tomorrow whether the event is postponed. I think it will be,” the source said.