September 08, 2007	Saturday	Sha'aban 25, 1428

LAHORE, Sept 7: A petition filed against the Punjab Football Association (PFA) has been withdrawn after an underhand deal between the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) president Faisal Saleh Hayat and banned former Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) secretary Arshad Lodhi.

The petition was filed by Nasim Khan Niazi, a candidate for the post of PFA secretary who belonged to the Tariq Cheema group. He had alleged in the petition that PFF-appointed election commissioner didn’t provide the voters list on time.

Although the court had restrained PFF from announcing the PFA election result, Arshad had already been elected chairman of the provincial body on the same day when the court issued a stay order against the election.

While apparently it seems Arhsad is now the chairman of PFA, the question is how will he hold that post as he had already been debarred for 10 years by PFF on serious charges including a breach of the code of conduct.

PFF had banned Arshad for issuing press statements against the PFF and its chief Faisal. He had accused Faisal of nepotism and making changes to the PFF constitution to serve his vested interests.

PFF on July 10 had categorically stated that “Arshad is a one-man demolition squad whereby he has deliberately tried to undermine the record and phenomenal achievements of PFF and its various bodies/units over the past four years.

“He and his colleagues have failed to uphold the values of discipline and spirit of the game and tried to hold the entire body of PFF hostage to their personal whims and interests. This state of mind of Arshad Lodhi and his colleagues render them liable to the strictest of disciplinary actions,” PFF had said in a July statement.

Arshad said he had already filed an appeal against his ban and the hearing was on Sept 11, while the case against the PFF elections would also be heard the same day. He was also given a stay order on a petition against the PFF elections, to be held on July 16 as PFF had decided to exclude Punjab from the polls because of a pending court case of the PFA.

Sources said Nasim has withdrawn case against PFA election on Faisal’s instruction following a “deal” with Arshad who is more than willing for a “compromise” after getting his share. The agreement will make the PFF election possible as PFA dispute will be resolved.

Arshad has also discussed the issue of a 10-year ban with the PFF president who has assured him the matter would be resolved after taking some rules and regulations into consideration.

However, the big question is how and why PFF will allow an official who blatantly violated the PFF code of conduct and made serious allegations against federation’s chief.