islamabad
Athletics Federation of Pakistan (AFP) president Maj Gen (r) M Akram Sahi has decided to challenge the Supreme Court’s decision of September 30.
Talking to The Nation, Sahi said some important facts were not presented before the Supreme Court (SC), and present the hidden facts to it to get justice. “The petitioner was himself a candidate for the Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) secretary slot. First of all, we will request the Supreme Court to form an independent election commission. We also want to know that which federations have the right to contest the elections, as we don’t expect free and fair elections until General Arif Hasan is not removed from the post, which he is occupying illegally,” he added.
Sahi said: “I am quite amazed, the federations who were following government sports policy in true letter and spirit were badly punished while those, who have been violating the sports policy, are enjoying perks and privileges. We have always accepted the law of the land and the court orders whether against us or in our favour.”
“It is the right of every Pakistani to know the reason behind decline of sports in the country. Our contingents both at Commonwealth and Asian Games failed to live up to the expectations. I don’t blame athletes, but it is the crime done by the POA, who selected blue-eyed and non-deserving overage players,” he added.
“I believe Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) is the mother of all evils and responsible for destroying Pakistani sports. They always buck up parallel bodies, just to gain personal benefits. Despite not even getting handful of medals, no one else but Inter Provincial Coordination (IPC) ministry and the PSB is to be blamed for the worst ever results in the Asian Games history. The PSB also ignored the clear directives of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, in which he had ordered the PSB to cut down the size and only send those players who stands chance of winning medals,” he stated.
Sahi also announced to conduct National Athletics Championship from October 17 here at Pakistan Sports Complex. “We have taken permission from the PSB, and we will bear all the expenses, as the PSB is not ready to shoulder its expenditures.”
“I have written a letter to the IAAF and other international bodies about step-motherly treatment rendered to the AFP. We conducted long-training camps for male and female athletes, who had real hope of representing the country at Asian Games and winning laurels in return, but all their hopes were dashed as the PSB and POA denied the AFP a chance to send genuine athletes for the prestigious event,” he said. “I have also decided to hold international athletics championship later this year or early next year, to provide my players an opportunity to showcase their talent at higher level,” he added.
“I request PM Mian Nawaz Sharif to look into this matter and take serious notice of the situation as already too much precious time has been wasted,” Sahi concluded.
The PM is the only hope left for the AFP and athletes to get justice,”