LAHORE -

Pakistan Olympic Association president Lt Gen (retd) Syed Arif Hasan has expressed the optimism that with new government in place, the ongoing row between the national Olympic committee and PSB will be resolved soon and Olympic charter will be respected by the concerned quarters here.
Addressing a news conference after presiding over a special emergent general council meeting of the POA which was attended by 85 representatives out of 102 house here on Saturday at POA house, Gen Arif said: “The new government is led by a sports lover Prime Minister and the entire Olympic family in Pakistan is confident that the PM will take measures to resolve the present crisis which has engulfed the national sports scene.”  “We will soon be writing a letter to the Prime Minister requesting him to look into the matter to support the Olympic movement and Olympic charter in Pakistan,” he added. Gen Arif said the PSB was backing illegal interim committee of the POA and its activities were harmful for the cause of sports in Pakistan. "The IOC is closely monitoring the situation and if efforts were not made to find a solution of the problem, then IOC may take a stern disciplinary action which can result in the suspension of Pakistan,” he said.
“The IOC has reiterated its stance on many occasions that it backs and support the POA which is duly elected and headed by Gen Arif and it will put sanctions on Pakistan if the illegal interim committee continues its activities," the POA chief said.  He termed the holding of the national games in Islamabad later this month ‘illegal’ and another step of the interim committee to cause confusion. “Under which mandate the interim committee can hold the National Games which were held earlier this year at Lahore,” he asked.  He said the PSB had released a grant of Rs 80 million for holding the games denying the POA the participation of national contingent in the 2nd Youth Olympic Games and Indoor Martial Games which clearly showed the intentions of the PSB to isolate Pakistan from the international sports.
“We are trying since long to safeguard the interest of Pakistan sports and to avoid the wrath of the IOC by showing a reasonable attitude but PSB is committed to patronage illegal sports activities to draw the action of IOC,” he said.  The POA president said the POA was updating the IOC on regular basis on all the issues including creation of parallel sports federations.
“We want the participation of our athletes in elite international events and appeal to the government to take remedial measures to address the genuine problems being faced by the POA to protecting the Olympic charter and movement in Pakistan,” he concluded.