ISLAMABAD: At a time when the country is trying to tackle the aftermath of the worst ever floods and needs prompt rescue and rehabilitation activities, a tug of war between rival groups has hampered the active participation of the Pakistan Boy Scouts Association (PBSA).

This has reportedly been going on for the past one year. Due to intensified rivalry, the headquarter was sealed by Islamabad’s administration last month and was only recently de-sealed on court orders.

The controversy started last year after elections between Sarfaraz Qamar Daha and Sardar Yar Mohammad Rind for the post of chief scout commissioner. Mr Daha’s group claimed victory while the rival Rind Group opposed its claim and filed a case in the court and took charge of the office.

Meanwhile, both parties have been claiming that they have the right to hold the post, but recently, Mr Daha took charge of the affairs after de-sealing of the office on the direction of the Islamabad High Court.

On Sunday, a group of scouts held an extraordinary meeting of the General Council in Islamabad Club, claiming that majority of the council members had appointed international commissioner Shoaib Dahri as acting chief commissioner.

They alleged that they had been prohibited from entering the office building for the council’s meeting.

They further claimed that PBSA Secretary Shamas Khan conducted the meeting in Islamabad Club, in which the international commissioner was given acting charge of chief commissioner.

On the other hand, Mr Daha told Dawn that he was an elected commissioner and had taken charge on court order. He alleged that some fake members held a meeting, which had no legal standing.

Published in Dawn, October 31st, 2022