KARACHI: Rules and regulations were flouted when the general council of the Pakistan Boxing Federation (PBF) approved minutes of its last electoral meeting after a three-year layoff.

“Strangely, no general council meeting took place after the re-election of Doda Bhutto as the PBF chief in Dec 2012 and the house gave its nod to minutes of that meeting on Thursday,” sources told Dawn.

An official claimed that executive committee of the PBF had met once in three years but sources said that no such meeting had taken place.

Speaking on the occasion, the PBF chief dwelt on the scenario since he had come at the helm of affairs in 2008. “I met the International Amateur Boxing Association (AIBA) chief and got his blessings to revive activities in the country which had almost lost its global recognition,” he remarked.

Outlining AIBA’s committments he said the world body will sponsor Asian Youth Boxing Championship which is being held in Pakistan in 2016. In addition, the IOC will provide funding of Rs1.2 million for holding a coaches training in the country, he added.

At the outset, the PBF secretary Iqbal Hussain said despite numerous odds and lack of support from the PSB, they did their best by staging four major competitions and seven camps during the last three years.

He said a pool of 25 three star coaches is being raised. He also offered apologies with the members on behalf of the PBF for ‘shortcomings or default’ if any.

Participants of the meeting also suggested various ways and means for the promotion of game.

Published in Dawn, November 28th, 2015