CJP grills Hayat, orders PFA, PFF re-elections [Express Tribune]

KARACHI: Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Mian Saqib Nisar on Tuesday grilled the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) President Makhdoom Syed Faisal Saleh Hayat over ill-intentions and ordered fresh elections.

Pakistan, ranked at a lowly 203rd position in the world, has not played any international event since March 23, 2015, the same year when the infighting started in the PFF.

The federation broke into two rival groups and it all surfaced with the Punjab Football Association (PFA) elections that year.

The CJP ordered re-elections of the PFA in 14 days, which is the first phase, whereas the PFF elections will take place later.

Advocate Ali Raza was nominated by the SC as the caretaker to hold the elections.

“Politics are ruining the sport,” remarked CJP. “In the first phase PFA elections will take place and later PFF’s.”

Later on Chief Justice also warned Hayat by saying that “we understand your intentions”.

Meanwhile, Justice Azmat Saeed Shaikh also remarked that it is the ego clash that is causing the problems and so far the politics have only let sports down. “You have humiliated Pakistan, should we care about Pakistan and the country’s prestige or your ego,” he remarked.

The fresh elections will be conducted according to PFF’s 2014 Constitution, while Nisar also instructed that all the funds that may come from FIFA for PFF will now be scrutinised.

The PFF were expecting $4.3m from FIFA. On the other hand, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has also approved US$300,000 to repair the headquarters of the federation.

Pakistan were suspended by FIFA last year in October due to third party intervention since the PFF was not in Hayat’s hands. The ban was lifted by FIFA last month.

FIFA had also sent their mission last month, headed by FIFA Director Member Associations Asia-Oceania Sanjeevan Balasingam to brief PFF on FIFA development programme.

Published in The Express Tribune, 17 April 2018

The News adds:

SC asks POA to conduct PFA election

by Abdul Moid Shah

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Tuesday issued orders for conducting elections of Punjab Football Association.

It directed Pakistan Olympic Association’s (POA) legal advisor Ali Raza to conduct Punjab association elections within the next fortnight and submit a report to the Court in this respect. The bench, headed by Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar and including Justice Sheikh Azmat Saeed and Justice Ijazul Ahsan, further directed Raza to hold PFF election in due course.

The bench said that elections should be conducted in a way which could ensure Pakistan’s participation in all international events abroad.

Talking to ‘The News’, Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) president Faisal Saleh Hayat thanked Supreme Court for handling the matter in the best interest of football in the country.

“It is a big day for football in particular and sports in general as the Supreme Court has given clear directions of settling the matter according to laid down rules. The decision is a decisive blow to all those forces which have been working against the game for the last few years. We have already lost very precious time to develop football in the country. Today’s decision by the Court would set the benchmark for future of sports in the country,” Faisal said.

He termed the decision a historic one. “I am grateful to the Supreme Court for discouraging those elements which only believe in politics and seeking personal gains.” He said that these elements were not only seeking his disqualification but also wanted handpicked election panels to conduct Punjab and national elections. “All their expectations met dead end and now only those having the backing and support of genuine units would get the chance to serve the game of football,” he added.

Faisal said there were no fears for any international ban now that the court had given its verdict.“FIFA is the game’s governing body in the world and it would be a matter of pleasure for them even to hear such development.”

Published in The News, 18 April 2018