World Chess Federation warns CFP of suspension

ISLAMABAD: An emergency meeting of the Chess Federation of Pakistan’s (CFP) general body was called online after the World Chess Federation’s (FIDE) management board issued a warning letter to Pakistani officials to possibly suspend Pakistan, says a press release.

The reason behind the warning was that the CFP and FIDE nominated election commissioner Saleem Akhtar was arrested by the FIA and later released in an attempt to disrupt CFP’s elections to be held on July 8 in Islamabad under the joint supervision of FIDE observer Mr John Cox.

The House was informed that Pakistan is facing looming threat of suspension and loss of its reputation internationally, because of a single person, the “self-declared vice president’ of the CFP who was disqualified and expelled from the election hall by the election commissioner of PSB in 2017. The same person is illegally using the FIA to destroy Pakistan’s reputation internationally. Although the national sports authorities has issued final notices against this person for forgery, misrepresentation, concealment of facts and fraud.

The House also noticed that almost two months back all the evidences of the frauds committed by this person were officially submitted with the Pakistan Sports Board but because no action was taken by the PSB, Pakistan is now facing a looming threat of suspension.

The participants of the meeting condemned the illegal attempts to use the institutions and appealed to prime Minister Imran Khan and minister Dr Fehmida Mirza to intervene into the issue to save Pakistan’s suspension from the international body, and after due inquiry, take legal actions against those who are responsible for destroying Pakistan’s reputation and standing in the sports world.