March 17, 2007	Saturday	Safar 27, 1428

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LAHORE, March 16: Four members of the Senate Standing Committee on Sports have submitted a requisition summoning officials of the Pakistan Cricket Board, Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) and Pakistan Squash Federation (PSF) to answer various queries regarding decline in sports.

Senator Enver Beg (PPP), Mrs Rehana Balouch (PML-Q), Dr Mrs Kausar Firdous (MMA) and Tahir (MQM) signed the requisition.

According to the rules of the Senate, it is mandatory to call the meeting in the next 14 days. As per the requisition, PCB chairman Dr Nasim Ashraf will be asked to explain reasons why the constitution of the board could not be implemented by Jan 31 as he had made a promise regarding the same before the committee.

The PCB is being run on ad hoc basis for the last eight years as last three chairmen - Tauqir Zia, Shaharyar Khan and now Nasim Ashraf - succeeded in putting an end to ad hocism in the board.

In January, the draft of the constitution was sent by the PCB to its Patron-in-Chief, President Gen. Pervez Musharraf for approval. But the federal law ministry had raised objections over some of its clauses. Since then there is no news whatsoever about the constitution.

The requisition has also summoned PHF president Zafarullah Khan Jamali to explain if he had made any comprehensive plans to raise a formidable team for the next year’s Beijing Olympics. Newly appointed coach, Islahuddin Siddiqi has been allowed to assist the federation chief.

The president of Pakistan Squash Federation will also appear before the committee to inform the Senate committee about the action plan for the promotion of the game and also the incident in which one of the federations' vice-president misbehaved with a player.