ISLAMABAD, Jan 19: The main federations of the country are in the process of implementing the provisions of national sports policy, Director General of Pakistan Sports Board, Brig. Saulat Abbas, said Saturday.

National sports policy, released in April last year, bars any office-bear of a federation to hold more than two consecutive terms of four years each. Under the policy, elections are to be held from tehsil to district, provincial and national level and office-bearers can move from lower to upper tier.

However, any office-holder for the posts of president, secretary and treasurer cannot contest elections for any of these posts in the same federation.

“All notable federations like that of athletics, boxing, hockey, cricket, squash etc. are holding elections from tehsil upward”, Brig. Saulat said.

To a question, he said disciplinary action will be taken against those federations which fail to hold elections under the provisions of national sports policy.

Pakistan Wrestling Federation has recently reelected the President and other office-bearers in contravention of the policy.

“We will take action after the dealine of April 14 for elections to the national federations”.

The election process to variour tiers of sports bodies will complete with the elections of Pakistan Olympic Association on June 15.

“These elections are for the good of the sports in the country and I will not be intimidated by negative reports in some papers”, Saulat said. He was referring to a report in which he was urged to withdraw sports policy. “I have shed blood for my country and I will not be cowed down this time too”.

He also disclosed that a summary had been sent to CE Secretariat for employing the national players of various sports on permanent basis in the departments.

To another question, he said the father of a player, competing abroad, will have to furnish a bond that his son or daughter will not slip away.

“The bond is of Rs. one million but the departing player will not have to deposit money”, he said. “Instead father will suffer, a sort of deterrent for the player, if his kids slip away while on foreign tour.”

“The policy has been in force for a few months now and is aimed at eliminating this incidence,” he added.—APP