LAHORE: The Lahore High Court on Tuesday suspended reinstatement of retired Lt Gen Arif Hasan as Pakistan Olympic Association’s president and sought reply from the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB).

Justice Khalid Mahmood Khan passed this interim order on petitions filed by general secretary of the Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) Khwaja Farooq Saeed and others.

Advocate Munawarul Salam argued that the petitioner No.1 (POA) was the society registered under Society Act 1860 and had its own Memorandum of Association/Constitution.

He said members of the society elected its office-bearers in an election held on July 5, 2013 and the PSB accepted the petitioners as elected body. He added that the Senate Committee of Pakistan also recognised the petitioners.

However, he said the PSB on June 13, 2014 directed the district coordination officer of Lahore that the International Olympic Committee (IOC) refused to accept the executive body of POA.

Therefore, it had been decided to allow the National Sports Federations to get the accreditation through the IOC-recognised POA headed by Arif Hasan for participation in forthcoming international mega events.

The counsel said the PSB issued letters about withdrawal of elected executive body headed by retired Maj Gen Akram Sahi and appointment of Arif Hasan.

The counsel argued that respondent Arif Hasan had no authority to interfere in the affairs of POA and the PSB was bound to accept elected body (petitioners) for the POA under the laws of the country.

The counsel asked the court to set aside the impugned notification wherein Arif Hasan was made president of the POA.

Justice Khan, however, suspended the notification and sought reply from the PSB and other respondents by next hearing.

Published in Dawn, July 9th , 2014