POA doesn’t own any judo body: Khalid

KARACHI: Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) on Wednesday clarified that it did not own any of the two groups claiming to be Pakistan Judo Federation (PJF).

Col Junaid Alam-led PJF held its elections in August and a former PJF secretary Mehmood Naved formed a parallel PJF on Monday.

Junaid-led PJF’s elections had been observed by the representative of International Judo Federation’s (IJF) Gerrard Benone from Switzerland.

“We don’t own Junaid-led PJF because it had not fulfilled legal and constitutional requirements before going for elections in August,” POA’s secretary Khalid Mehmood told ‘The News’ from Lahore.

“We also had a meeting with the IJF’s representative and he had been informed that unless PJF met the legal requirements the POA could not own it,” Khalid said.

He said the POA had not sent its observer to observe the electoral meeting of the same body.

The body headed by Junaid, formerly led by Col Rana Shujaat Ali, who had two tenures as its chief, is recognised by IJF. This correspondent has learnt that Junaid’s PJF has received an email from IJF in which the world body advised it to contact POA for fielding its squad in the Islamic Games to be held in Baku next year.

As per October 2015 Lausanne agreement, the POA had allowed the PJF’s entry into the Olympic fold on the condition that it would withdraw all its cases it had filed in various courts against the POA.

The PJF claimed that it had withdrawn all cases. But the PJF still needs to meet some legal requirements because of which the POA has not yet recognised it.

About the parallel PJF formed by Mehmood Naved, who brought in federal minister Abid Sher Ali as its president, Khalid said the POA had no details about its election.

Khalid said that faction had not been on good terms with the POA.

“The POA would accept only that body which met all legal requirements,” he added.

About the two parallel bodies of Sindh Squash Association (SSA) Khalid said effort had been made to sort out the issue. He was quick to add that the POA did not have any knowledge about what happened recently in that matter.

A source in the Sindh Olympic Association (SOA) said that no development had been made in the matter.

“An influential group wants favour but we are unable to do so as SOA and Sindh Sports Board (SSB) observed the elections of the other body and cannot own any other group,” the source added.

About the legal status of Pakistan Boxing Federation (PBF), Khalid said that the POA recognised Doda Bhutto-led PBF which was affiliated with the international boxing governing body (AIBA).

“As per our knowledge there is no issue in the PBF. Those provincial associations are recognised which are affiliated with the AIBA-recognised PBF,” Khalid said.

In all four provinces parallel boxing associations are working which may create hurdles in the way of PBF elections which are due by December 20.

So far three groups have emerged which are expected to field their candidates in the PBF elections. Velo’s sports company’s chief executive Salman Islam is expected to run for presidency.

About the issue of parallel bodies, a senior official of Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) on Wednesday said that it was the responsibility of the POA or the relevant federations to resolve the issues. “The PSB cannot get involved in such matters. If it did it would not be able to focus on other matters. The government has directed us to work with those federations which are recognised by their international bodies,” the official said.

But a source close to these developments claimed that the PSB was also responsible for creating such issues. “Had the Board not favoured some groups these issues could have been resolved,” the source said.

About the issue of Pakistan Basketball Federation (PBF), the PSB official said Brig Rashid Malik-led body had submitted its documents with the Board and that the executive committee would see whether it met the Board’s requirements.

The PSB also does not issue funds to Ahmed Ali Rajput-led Pakistan Gymnastic Federation (PGF) which is recognised by its international federation.