SC asks POA to conduct PFA election

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Tuesday issued orders for conducting elections of Punjab Football Association.

It directed Pakistan Olympic Association’s (POA) legal advisor Ali Raza to conduct Punjab association elections within the next fortnight and submit a report to the Court in this respect. The bench, headed by Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar and including Justice Sheikh Azmat Saeed and Justice Ijazul Ahsan, further directed Raza to hold PFF election in due course.

The bench said that elections should be conducted in a way which could ensure Pakistan’s participation in all international events abroad.Talking to ‘The News’, Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) president Faisal Saleh Hayat thanked Supreme Court for handling the matter in the best interest of football in the country. “It is a big day for football in particular and sports in general as the Supreme Court has given clear directions of settling the matter according to laid down rules. The decision is a decisive blow to all those forces which have been working against the game for the last few years. We have already lost very precious time to develop football in the country. Today’s decision by the Court would set the benchmark for future of sports in the country,” Faisal said.

He termed the decision a historic one. “I am grateful to the Supreme Court for discouraging those elements which only believe in politics and seeking personal gains.” He said that these elements were not only seeking his disqualification but also wanted handpicked election panels to conduct Punjab and national elections. “All their expectations met dead end and now only those having the backing and support of genuine units would get the chance to serve the game of football,” he added.

Faisal said there were no fears for any international ban now that the court had given its verdict.“FIFA is the game’s governing body in the world and it would be a matter of pleasure for them even to hear such development.”