LAHORE, May 23: The Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) has directed the officials concerned of Pakistan Army, Air Force, Navy, Wapda, HEC, Pakistan Railways and Police not to participate in the ‘so-called’ National Athletics Championship, which is purportedly being held in Islamabad from May 24 to 26, otherwise they may face action under the POA constitution’s article VI-6 (v).

In a letter addressed to the above POA-affiliated units, with the copy sent to the secretary generals of the four provincial athletics associations and FATA, the POA has reminded them that the Athletics Federation of Pakistan (AFP) had been suspended through a unanimous decision of the POA General Council in its meeting held on February 12, 2013 “with immediate effect”.

“The secretaries general of the Olympic Association of Balochistan, KP, Punjab, Sindh and Fata have been asked to direct concerned provincial athletics association to desist from taking part in the said Athletics Championship,” the POA letter states.

Meanwhile, the POA also quoted its May 21’s letter which states: “The suspension was immediately notified vide Letter No POA-092 dated February 12, 2013 ‘specifically on account of the AFP President and Secretary General’s categorical denial of the authority of the Pakistan Olympic Association and rejection of the directions of the International Olympic Committee (IOC)’, and also subsequent attempts to illegally take over the operations of the POA in collusion with other individuals and associations.”

While directing the above organisations to refrain from participating in an event of a suspended organisation that has been in violation of the POA constitution and the IOC Charter, the letter signed by the POA President Lt Gen Retd Syed Arif Hasan has also warned the addressees that taking part in the said championship could have its adverse fallout.