ITA holds election despite Aisam's letter

KARACHI: Islamabad Tennis Association (ITA) defied the instructions of Aisam-ul-Haq and conducted its Annual General Meeting and held elections for the term of 2024-28 on Saturday at Islamabad Club.

Chief Election Commissioner Majid Bashir and POA Representative Rizwan-ul-Haq Rizvi supervised the elections in which Tariq Mehmood Murtaza was elected as president, M Tufail Cheema as Secretary General, and Syed Ahsan Raza as Treasurer.

Earlier, president Pakistan Tennis Federation Aisam-ul-Haq wrote a letter to Tariq Murtaza and asked him to postpone the elections for 10 days saying he was not legally eligible to contest for the elections.

"I have received a letter from Fazal-e-Subhan (President Islamabad Tennis Complex) bringing to my attention that you and Arif Qureshi as a panel are planning to contest the upcoming Islamabad Tennis Association elections and have obtained nominations from ITA units for the same as well. "I would like to point out to you that as per Revised National Sports Policy 2005 Section 10 clause 5 (b)

"President, Honorary Secretary and the Treasurer will be allowed a maximum of two tenures, in any office of the Federation or Association, after which they will become ineligible for holding the same posts of that particular Federation or Association. However, they will be allowed to contest for next higher Post/ Association at any time.

"Under this very clause Salim Saifullah Khan recently let go off his charge as President Pakistan Tennis Federation after completing two terms in office.

"Now as per the same policy Islamabad Tennis Association also cannot have these elections with you, Tariq Murtaza as President and Arif Qureshi as Secretary. This is in violation of National Sports Policy therefore your panel cannot contest the upcoming elections of ITA. "Furthermore, since Arif Qureshi has recently been elected as a Treasurer of Pakistan Tennis Federation, he cannot hold any other office in any other Federation or Association, as per Section 10 clause 5 (d).

"I hope we can complete this process in an amicable manner and continue to promote the sport of tennis in Pakistan while following the guidelines of National Sports Policy given by Government of Pakistan," stated Aisam-ul-Haq in his letter.