October 04, 2006	Wednesday	Ramazan 10, 1427

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LAHORE, Oct 3: The Pakistan Basketball Federation (PBF) will conduct fresh elections on Wednesday under the supervision of the Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) ending the six-year old ad hoc period.

The ad hoc set-up was imposed in 2000 due to differences by different factions within the PBF.

Elections were held by the body headed by late Air Commodore Mohammad Afzal. But a group formed by Brig (retd) Rasheed boycotted the proceedings, alleging the constitution was not followed while conducting the elections.

Later, the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) conducted the elections in which 15 members had to cast their votes, but only 14 members participated and both the group claimed seven votes, each. The then director general of the PSB Saulat Abbas instead of allowing the PBF president to cast his decisive vote, (only necessary in such situation), imposed ad hoc set-up on the federation.

Ever since, the future of many prospective players have suffered as Pakistan could only participate in the 1st Islamic Games-2005 in Saudi Arabia, in six years.

This was due to the ad hoc body which was not recognised by Asian Basketball Federation or by South Asian regional body. The international career of many players were ruined due to ad hoc set-up.

Sources said that the results of Wednesday's elections would not be publicised and the POA would send it to the Supreme Court under whose orders the polls are being held.

The main group headed by Khalid Bashir, which had been contesting the case in the Supreme Court to hold the elections according to the PBF's constitution was not invited for the elections.