Non-accredited officials having a joy trip

ISLAMABAD: Contrary to the PTI government’s austerity drive, the Ministry of Inter-Provincial Coordination (IPC) let the doors open for non-accredited officials to have a joy trip of Nepal to watch 13th South Asian Games.

Two of the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) officials, who were denied accreditation by the organising committee of SA Games, have left for Nepal to watch the Games at the expense of public exchequer. Paediatrician Abdul Qadoos Jamali and one of the PSB directors Rana Nasarullah were denied accreditation by the Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) on the instructions of the Game’s organising committee. Yet both left for Nepal without having the official access to the venues.

Neither the two can perform any duty nor monitor sports in official capacity (other than as an ordinary spectator or on daily passes). Yet they were given full financial coverage by the IPC ministry without realising that the government is on austerity drive. In this scenario, doling out pleasure trips to any unwanted officials is nothing less than waste of financial resources.

“The two have no accreditation, still they are in Nepal and are having good time here. It is really unfortunate to have unwanted officials travelling on government’s expense,” one of the Pakistan contingent officials, when contacted, said.

The case of the duo becomes very serious as the ministry had dropped no less than ten karatekas to adjust these non-accredited officials. Karate so far is the highest gainer as far as gold medals are concerned. The tally could have been even higher had all the karatekas were allowed by the ministry to compete in the Games.

On the one hand, the ministry put restriction on the strength of contingent, on the other hand non-accredited officials were supported by the government. When ‘The News’ approached Azam Dar, Deputy Director General PSB, he confirmed that the two have left for Nepal.

“We have tried hard and even requested the POA to get accreditation for them but to no avail. Even without accreditation they proceeded to Nepal. My question is why they were not granted accreditation,” Azam Dar said.

‘The News’ has learnt that they were assured by some sources that their accreditation will be managed. The two are in Nepal and were even seen taking pictures during the opening ceremony’s march-past.

“We have a system in the PSB to cater medical needs of the athletes and Jamali is looking after the PSB’s medical department. He should have been given accreditation and so is Rana,” Azam Dar said. POA’s point of view is that since they had already decided on the accreditation, it was difficult to change names.

The main question that arises here is as why the non-accredited officials were financially backed by the ministry at the cost of karatekas, who had realistic chances of winning more medals for the country.