September 27, 2002	Friday	Rajab 19, 1423

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LAHORE, Sept 26: Secretary Pakistan Badminton Federation (PBF), Aamir Hayat Rokri, has said the attitude shown by Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) to recognise his body as genuine was dubious and it was also was creating un-necessary hurdles in resolving the issue.

In a press statement Thursday, the PBF official said it was strange that POA has asked him to appear before its Affiliation and Constitution Committee for explaining his point of view for the acceptance of his body.

“POA is acting in an unusual manner, contrary to the status of the National Olympic Committee, and is making aimless efforts just to delay the matter and not to reach a solution” he said.

Aamir has approached POA to recognise his election and the elections of the PBF held under a directive of the Supreme Court, two months ago. He has written a letter to President, POA, Syed Wajid Ali Shah to grant them affiliation as a genuine body as the elections were held according to the PBF constitution under the supervision of Pakistan Sports Board.

He said there was no question or justification that he should appear before the POA committee and such invitations were carrying no weight and importance.

“Why should I appear before a committee which has no legal status and authority to look in to those matters which does not fall in its jurisdiction,” he said.

Secretary, PBF, said he has written a letter to POA chief just to seek justice but he (Wajid) has failed to respond positively despite repeated reminders and surprisingly forwarded the case to a Committee, just to linger on the matter

Secretary PBF strongly criticised the POA officials “for harming the interests of the sports specially the badminton and said they were trying to disrupt the smooth working of elected bodies.

“I am an elected secretary of a genuine body but POA instead of supporting me was creating hardships by making the matter complicated,” said Aamir.

“How many secretaries were asked to appear before POA committees after their elections and it is the only badminton federation which has been picked for this unique experiment as POA wants to please the former secretary, Sarfraz Ahmad who is the treasurer of the POA and a close buddy of its office bearers,” he maintained.

PBF secretary said he will seek justice from the court if POA does not resolve the issue of granting them the status of a genuine body and by not doing so it (POA) was in contempt of court as it has failed to accept the elections held under the orders of Supreme Court.—APP