May 24, 2006	Wednesday	Rabi-us-Sani 25, 1427

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LAHORE, May 23: Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) Director Technical Mujahid Ullah Tareen has resigned after developing differences with president Faisal Saleh Hayat. Major Farooq Mir has been made the acting director technical.

The decision was taken after Faisal had a lengthy meeting with Mujahid on Sunday night, before asking the former director to leave the office.

The PFF cited health problems as Mujahid’s reason for tendering the resignation.

But Mujahid did not feel comfortable with the president since the former had refused to take the assignment as organising committee chairman of the SAFF Championship held in Karachi in last December.

The president had appointed Mujahid to head the organising committee but the elected

members of the PFF raised objections, complaining they had the right to organise such events.

After the objection, Mujahid decided to refuse the assignment and was also ready to quit but president did not agree.

Since that episode, the relations between Faisal and Mujahid remained strained. Faisal had appointed Muslim Butt as deputy of Mujahid to get him trained before sacking the director.

When contacted Mujahid said that it was better for him to quit but denied any differences with the president.

"There are no differences with president and I only tendered the resignation to take rest after doing a lot of work," Mujahid said.

Mujahid started the league and various other national events and gave a hectic schedule of activities to the PFF.

He was appointed director technical three years ago, after the PFF had failed to start league despite receiving warning from the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) that it could suspend the PFF for not starting the league.

Faisal and Mujahid already had a confrontation in the elections of the PFF in mid 90s.

Mujahid as representative of Army, cast his vote against Faisal that helped the then president Mian Azhar to win the crucial elections with the difference of only one vote.