Sports Min withdraws notification of ad-hoc committee on PTF

ISLAMABAD The Ministry of Sports Thursday withdrew its notification regarding the imposition of an ad-hoc committee on the Pakistan Tennis Federation (PTF) on October 15. Federal Minister for Sports Mir Aijaz Hussain Jakhrani told reporters in a media briefing in the Conference Room of the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) that the Ministry had decided to withdraw its notification on the guaranty of the PTF officials for holding the elections on November 26. President PTF Senator Dilawar Abbas, who was present in the press conference, ensured the Ministry to hold the elections on November 26 under the National Sports Policy (NSP) and in accordance with the constitution of the federation. I will follow the NSP and I will not contest the election for the third time as sports policy bars me from contesting the election for PTF presidency, he said. Jakhrani said: Our basic aim was to conduct the elections of the PTF. Now, they have agreed to hold the elections according to the constitution of the federation and they have ensured us to follow the National Sports Policy. After this guaranty, the Ministry has decided to withdraw its notification of October 15, 2010, he said. He also said that the issue was settled on table. The PTF officials are also showing their desire to conduct the elections and they could not hold the elections in time as an affiliated tennis association had put the case in court of law. Now, all the matters are clear and they will hold the elections on November 26, he added. Responding to a question, he said that the Ministry did not get dictations from anyone. The Ministry does not want to interfere in the matter of national sports federations. If some one does well, we will appreciate that federation. The Ministry never goes on back foot and we are running it well, he said. Jakhrani further said that the Ministry would take action against the federations which were not producing satisfactory results. We will review the performance of the Pakistan Volleyball Federation and then decide to send volleyball team in the 16th Asian Games which will be held from November 12 to 27 at Guangzhou, China, he added. Federal Minister for Cultural Pir Aftab Hussain Jillani, Director General PSB, Amir Hamza Gilani, secretary Sports Aziz Ahmed Balour, Senior Vice President PTF Brig (retd) Khalid Sajjad Khokhar and Secretary PTF Major (retd) Rashid Khan were also present in the press conference. It is important to mention here that the PSB had imposed an ad-hoc committee on the PTF after the approval of the Sports Ministry on October 15 and the alleged PTF for violating its own constitution and did not hold the election in time. They also criticise the PTF performance in the notification. Later, Dilawar Abbas went to court of law and got stay order against the decision of the PSB. Finally, the Ministry withdrew its notification on Thursday in a press conference.