POA constitution amended, PNF disaffiliated

KARACHI: Pakistan Olympic Association’s (POA) general body approved some constitutional amendments in a meeting on Sunday to make its processes smoother and avoid external interference.
The house decided to strengthen the arbitration process of the POA in order to prevent any body going to court without first lodging its complaint with POA.
The house also decided to disaffiliate the Pakistan Netball Federation. It had been suspended two years ago and did not appeal against the suspension, so it was considered that it no longer wanted to remain associated with the POA.
The demand for increasing the votes of provincial associations from one to three was considered but deferred till after the POA election in early 2016. It was agreed that the number of votes would be increased to two.
The house also gave the go-ahead to the country’s participation in international competitions and asked the federations to set up their training camps.
The house was informed that the events to be held in South Asian Games would be finalised in a meeting in Chennai on October 11.
It was also told that kho-kho and triathlon had been included while karate and cricket had been excluded. The games are to be held in Shillong and Guwahati from January 10 to 20.
Sindh Olympic Association chief Ahmed Ali Rajput informed the house that all preparations had been made for National Beach Games, but these might be delayed owing to local body elections in the province in December.
It was agreed that reconciliation with General Sahi-led group was possible if it disbanded parallel bodies, withdrew cases from courts, and give up the possession of POA House.
A source said that Lt Gen (retd) Arif Hasan and Maj Gen (retd) Akram Sahi have been called for a meeting in Lausanne. The source also said Sahi met a high-level official of IOC in China during the recent World Athletics Championships.