When this article appears, more developments will have occurred under the agreement which has been reached between the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) and Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) and Maj Gen (retd) Mohammad Akram Sahi, who is also the president of Athletics Federation of Pakistan (AFP).

If the agreement reached on October 17 in Lausanne between these parties is implemented with generosity, it will put the Olympic movement in Pakistan back on track.

The Sahi group took a generous step when it handed over the keys of the Olympic House to the representatives of IOC and OCA in Lahore a few days ago. The OCA Director Asian Games Farman Haider of Kuwait specifically rushed to Lahore to dispose of the issue under the instructions of IOC. The Olympic House had been occupied by the Sahi group in September 2013 when the relations between POA and Pakistan’s government had turned hostile.

Unfortunately, soon after the positive step was taken, the POA issued a press release accusing their former rivals of damaging the equipment and impairing the condition of the Olympic House.

If an understanding had been reached then I think there was no need to issue such a press release. In such situations both parties have to avoid expressing their grievances.

I appreciate both Sahi and POA chief Lt Gen (retd) Arif Hasan for reaching an understanding as it will help Pakistan’s sports.

Credit must also be given to IOC and OCA as they took keen interest in Pakistan’s issue and ultimately cleared the way for a successful resolution of the matter which has damaged Pakistan’s sports immensely.

In the second step the POA is to re-admit four federations into the Olympic fold. These are Sahi-led AFP, Kokab Waraich-led Pakistan Cycling Federation (PCF), Col Shujat Ali Rana-led Pakistan Judo Federation (PJF) and Mudassir Arain-led Pakistan Netball Federation (PNF). According to sources, the issue was hotly debated in POA’s executive committee and general body meetings in Lahore on December 30. It was expected that this clause of the agreement would also be implemented without any problem. The POA was also expected to constitute a reconciliation committee on last Thursday (December 31) for the purpose. It was also expected that the POA would approach IOC for final advice before resolving this issue.

The issue of PNF seems different as it is a non-Olympic sport and so it may be treated differently. It had already been disaffiliated. But I think if PNF has also been bracketed in the written agreement with the other three federations then it should also be re-inserted into the POA.

Till writing of this article it was not officially confirmed but media reports said that the POA’s general body ratified the PNF’s disaffiliation. If it is true, it will create problems.

The IOC is also making re-confirmation of all federations from their respective International Federations (IFs) and it will send the list to POA by middle of January. And the judo, athletics and cycling federations would be re-instated without any further formalities as per IOC’s instructions.

It is highly likely that the issue of withdrawal of cases against the POA and the matter of controversial federations will also be amicably resolved before the POA polls on January 23 in the presence of IOC and OCA observers. Some of the provincial Olympic associations have also announced their elections.

There remain certain legal complications in both Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Olympic Association and Sindh Olympic Association (SOA) but it is expected that the stakeholders will be able to follow rules and justice will prevail.

If any problem is created in the elections of the provincial Olympic associations, it will leave a bad impact on the rest of the sports set-up and may even affect the POA’s elections.

Moreover, when the above-mentioned four federations are re-admitted into the POA, the provincial Olympic associations will also have to accommodate those associations which are affiliated with these federations.

It is time all the major stakeholders buried the hatchet, forgot what happened in the past and had a fresh beginning. During the last four years, Pakistan’s sports have suffered a lot because of these conflicts. Prolonging these would further destroy sports. When the new set-up of POA takes charge this month it should bring a solid plan for sports promotion in the country. It should also ensure cordial relations with the PSB which also needs reforms.

If judoka Shah Hussain did not qualify, Pakistan would be fielding only a few athletes in this year’s Rio Olympics who will be given wild card entries by the IOC. National boxers play in the Asian qualifying round for Olympics in China in March but the way this game is being treated I see no qualifying chance for them.

Pakistan for the first time in history did not qualify for Olympics in hockey which is so saddening. Let’s take a fresh start and revive the lost glory in squash, hockey and produce world and Olympic champions in other sports disciplines. Pakistan is brimming with talent and we can produce world and Olympic champions in wrestling, shooting, weightlifting, boxing, judo, wushu and several other sports. But for that a coordinated and sustainable effort is needed both from all sports bodies.