Pakistan Squash Open hit by controversy

KARACHI: The $50,000 Pakistan Squash Open which started on Sunday was mired in controversy because of the inclusion of Tahir Khanzada as a referee.

Chairman Balochistan Squash Association (BSA) Sher Ali Kakar on Friday had filed a contempt of court application in the court of district and session judge V Quetta against Pakistan Squash Federation (PSF) president Sohail Aman and Director Referee Tahir.

Kakar stated that the PSF nominated Tahir as a referee for Pakistan Open which was violation of the order dated August 30, 2017, passed by the court. He said the respondents ignored the order and intentionally committed contempt of the court and thus made themselves liable to be prosecuted under the law.

The applicant had filed an application Under Order 39 Rule 1, 2 CPC with the prayer to restrain Tahir from working as a referee.Kakar stated that on 15-11-2016 the matter was argued before Civil Judge-II Quetta and the court, observing that a prime facie case was being made out in favour of the applicant, had passed an injunction order in favour of the applicant, by means of which Tahir was to stop working as Director Referee and PSF vice president.

Also, on 9-08-2017 the Civil Judge-II Quetta returned the case to the applicant for filing in the proper court of jurisdiction.The other referees announced for the championship are Nasser Zahran (Egypt); Mohammad Fayaz (Hong Kong); Sajjad Ahmed (tournament referee); Mehboob Khan (KP); Munawar Zaman (KP); Mohammad Imran (Punjab); Asim Amin (Punjab); M Naseem (Sindh); Kaleemullah Kakar (Balochistan); Asif Khan (PSF); Gulab Sher (PAF); and Navad Kashif (Malaysia).