Demand for resignation of the head of Pakistan Olympic Association

 Demand for resignation of the head of Pakistan Olympic Association

The government wants to brighten the future of sports in the country by firing the head of the Pakistan Olympic Association (POA).

According to media reports, this demand was made by Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Shahbaz Gul at a news conference held at the Press Information Department on Friday in which Lieutenant General (retd) Arif Hassan was asked to join the Pakistan Olympic Association (POA). Resign as president

Pakistan has failed to win an Olympic medal since 1992 and has lost more medals by 2024 after not winning a medal at the Tokyo Olympics.

A meeting chaired by the Prime Minister on the Olympics decided that the only way to end this tradition was for Arif Hassan to step down.
Speaking at a press conference along with Minister for Inter-Provincial Coordination Fehmida Mirza and Director General (retd) of Pakistan Sports Board Colonel Muhammad Asif Zaman, Shipbaz Gul said, “We cannot tolerate any more embarrassment in sports. I demand the resignation of AK President.

Shahbaz Gul said that during the last 17 years of Arif Hassan's tenure, the POA was not held accountable and the government would not shy away from taking action.

Fehmida Mirza supported Shahbaz Gul's demand.

"We have seen over the years that a person is above the law and the government and has become untouchable," he told Dawn after the news conference.

He said that after becoming the head of POA, Arif Hassan changed the constitution, removed the prime minister from the post of his patron and therefore no accountability was ever held during his tenure. Incorporated elected members as independent voters so that they can remain in office.

Fehmida Mirza said that POA has continuously freed itself from the responsibility of developing sports in the country.

It should be noted that in the past there have been attempts to remove Arif Hassan from the presidency of the Pakistan Olympic Association, but pressure from the International Olympic Committee, which does not allow political or governmental interference in the affairs of its member organizations, has pushed the government back. Was forced to leave.

The POA has long claimed that its duty is to monitor the Olympic Charter and the World Anti-Doping Agency Code in Pakistan.

After a news conference in Islamabad, they held an emergency meeting in Lahore to decide their position.
He did not immediately release a press statement after the meeting, but Dawn learned that it had been decided at the meeting that he would write a letter to the Prime Minister asking for a briefing.

"We will hold a news conference on Tuesday to respond to today's press. We are also convening an emergency general council meeting within 15 days," POA general secretary Khalid Mahmood told Dawn.

The POA will also inform the Prime Minister that Arif Hassan was elected in 2019 through a fair process, and interference in his affairs will lead to IOC interference.

Sources said that the threat of action and possible suspension from the IOC were discussed during the meeting with the Prime Minister.

It is believed that Pakistan has been suspended by FIFA. A committee selected by the court had taken control of the headquarters of the Pakistan Football Federation from the normalization committee appointed by FIFA.

Sources told Dawn that the meeting was also attended by the President of the Athletics Federation of Pakistan, Major (retd) General Akram Sahi, who had twice contested for the presidency of the POA and failed, in addition to the Pakistan Hockey Federation. Secretary Asif Bajwa and former PFF General Secretary Col (retd) Mujahid Tareen were also present.

Janshir Khan, a great squash player, was also invited to the meeting but could not attend.

Of the 10 athletes competing in the Olympics, only Arshad Nadeem of the junior throw and weightlifter Talha Talib came close to winning medals. Both finished fifth in their respective fields.

Fehmida Mirza said the government wants to improve sports leadership and bring transparency in the country.

"We are pushing for the implementation of the national sports policy but Arif Hassan is opposing it. We want the federations to be accountable but they do not want to do that. How can we revive sports?" When things will stay that way.

He added that the POA was also obstructing the formation of the National Anti-Doping Organization (NADO). During the positive experience of the forbidden things.

Fehmida Mirza also said that the POA serves its supporters by sending them to the Olympics as coaches.

He said that Secretary of Pakistan Badminton Federation was present in Tokyo as the coach of Mahur Shehzad while the President of Pakistan Weightlifting Federation traveled as Talha's coach.

"AFP did not want to send Najma and she told us she was not fit to participate but she was sent to serve her coach," he said.

During the Games, the POA blamed Pakistan's poor performance on the PSB for returning 44 440 million in unused funds to the Finance Ministry.

He said the funds could be used to prepare athletes who would take part in the games.