August 21, 2008	Thursday	Sha'aban 18, 1429

ISLAMABAD, Aug 20: Former Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Dr Nasim Ashraf who quit the post hours after the resignation of President Pervez Musharraf on Monday has actually averted a likely action by the National Assembly when Federal Minister for Sports Najamuddin Khan on Wednesday alleged that the PCB chairman was “defying federal government authority.”

“National Assembly may like to take appropriate action against Chairman PCB for defying the lawful authority of (the) Federal Government,” the minister recommended while informing the house that the PCB chairman was not replying the questions of the members related to the affairs of the board.

Interestingly, there were nine different questions – most of them asked by the female members -- about the affairs of the PCB and in response to all the questions, the minister gave the same reply. He informed the house that the PCB was established in terms of sections 3 and 4 of the Sports (Development and Control) Ordinance, 1962 vide Ministry of Sports notification/SRO No. 64(KE)/2007, dated September 20, 2007 to assist the federal government for promotion, controlling and regulating the sport of cricket in the country.

Mr Khan further writes that the PCB has not furnished answer/reply to this question and in this regard they had been asked to brief the minister on Aug 18. “The chairman PCB has not complied with the directions of the M/O sports. Therefore, the minister for sports has expressed his inability to answer the question in the National Assembly”, the minister says in his written reply to all the nine questions asked by different members. MNA Shireen Arshad had asked the minister to give the names of the cricket players whose central contracts had been granted by the PCB for the current season along with the amount.

Being a close confidant of former president Pervez Musharraf, Dr Nasim Ashraf remained a target of the opposition’s criticism throughout his tenure and he was summoned by the Senate Standing Committee on Sports several times. During the proceedings, PPP Senator Enver Baig particularly took the PCB chairman to task and the reports about their tussle were also highlighted by the media.

Through a written question, PPP MNA Belum Hasnain had sought details about the audit report of the PCB and the name of the auditing firm. She had also asked the minister to point out the number of cases of corruption detected by the auditors.

MNA Murtaza Javed Abbasi had inquired from the minister whether a semi-cricket stadium had been constructed by the PCB in Abbottabad district and if there was any proposal to upgrade it.

Another female MNA Mrs Nisar Tanveer had asked the minister to disclose the total number of PCB employees removed from services since January 1, this year, and the reasons that caused their removal.

MNA Parveen Masood Bhatti through a question wanted to know about the total amount incurred by the PCB in defending the case of fast bowler Mohammad Asif for his release during his tour to India in 2007-08. She had also asked the minister to tell the reasons as to why a private firm was hired to defend the case.

MNA Abdul Majeed Khan had submitted a question seeking details of the media persons or spokesmen appointed by the PCB in the last four years with their salaray packages and the criteria adopted in their appointment.

Through a question, PPP MNA Fauzia Habib had sought the details of the income earned by the PCB through the sale of tickets of one day international matches played in Pakistan in last three years. Similarly, another MNA Tasneem Siddiqui had sought the details of the total income and expenditure of the PCB earned during the last three years.

MNA Malik Abrar could not get the details of the names of the PCB officials, except the chairman, who visited abroad, the expenditure on these visits and the authority which approved these visits.