LAHORE, July 26: Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) long-serving president Mian Mohammad Azhar is still undecided whether to quit or not as the general council elects new office-bearers here on Aug 28 for the next four-year term.

A final decision whether Azhar will contest the elections for the consecutive fourth term or not would be taken in a few days.

The representatives from Sindh and Balochistan football associations, who came to Lahore to attend Pakistan Olympic Association general council meeting on July 23, met Azhar and extended full support. Azhar, however, had not made up his mind to contest.

Azhar was elected president for the first time in 1991 when he was also governor of Punjab. He developed differences with the then secretary Hafiz Salman Butt.

FIFA got involved after the crisis turned ugly and elections were held under the world’s governing body in 1994. Azhar was re-elected after he defeated Faisal Saleh Hayat by a single vote.

Later, Mian Azhar succeeded in convincing FIFA to impose a 10-year ban on Hafiz Salman. Azhar was again re-elected in 1999.

Meanwhile, a PFF spokesman said on Saturday that the elections would be held for the posts of president, three vice-presidents, secretary general, two associate secretaries and a treasurer besides six members of executive committee.

All the office-bearers, except the president, for others post should be the members of the  general council, he said.

According to schedule of the elections, last date for submitting nomination papers is Aug 24. Scrutiny of the nomination papers will be completed the same day.

The list of the candidates will be announced on Aug 25, while nomination papers could be withdrawn till Aug 26. The final list of candidates will be announced the same day.

A total numbers of 21 general council members  will  exercise their right of votes.

Each province has three votes while PIA, Police, Wapda, Railways, University Grants Commission, Pakistan Army, Navy, PAF and the referees association have one vote apiece.

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