ISLAMABAD - Government-backed Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) president Maj Gen (r) M Akram Sahi termed Lt Gen (r) Syed Arif Hasan responsible for sports decline in the country and bringing bad name to it at international level.
Talking to The Nation, Sahi said: “Gen Arif is using International Olympic Association (IOC) as a tool to defy the Supreme Court orders regarding two terms and blackmailing the government by posing the IOC will impose ban on Pakistani athletes’ participation in international events under Pakistani flag.”
“A person who has spent 10 years or so as POA president and failed to deliver, on what grounds he wants another term and that too against sheer violation of constitution and National Sports Policy. Actually, he and his entire team have flopped miserably and they don't have any plans or vision to take Pakistan sports to certain levels. I have made comprehensive plans, invested millions of rupees for preparing athletes for international meets, but those players were selected who don't have any national standard recognition, but got selected because Gen Arif gave threats of IOC ban,” the POA chief said.
“The government has made it clear two years back that we respect the IOC stance and charter, but we will follow our own constitution and Supreme Court orders regarding restriction on holding office for more than two terms. The IOC has never changed their stance as they get vote from Gen Arif and in return, they allocate funds to him. But what is government doing, what takes them so long to implement the SC orders in a true letter and spirit. The government made a policy approved by cabinet and it was endorsed by the upper house. If the government wants to make shift in their policy, they have to go through entire process of taking approval from cabinet and Senate. Already two years have been wasted on this exercise so who will be responsible for denying deserving athletes a chance to showcase their skills at international stage who are able to win laurels for the country,” he questioned.
“If I am given an opportunity to lead Pakistan sports, only criteria of selection will be merit. If everybody adopts the same policy, the day is not far Pakistani athletes will rule the world of sports. There is no shortage of talent in the country but only need of the hour is to give opportunity to genuine talent,” Sahi concluded.