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LAHORE: The newly-elected president of the Pakistan Cycling Federation (PCF) Munawar Baseer Ahmad said here on Tuesday that the federation plans to hold three to four international level competitions annually.
Addressing a news conference where the PCF president also announced a 15-point agenda for the promotion of the game, he claimed that the new body is genuinely elected after the polls held here on Sept 24.
“The elections were held according to the constitution of the PCF and have been accepted by the Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) as well. Therefore, the body is genuine and will work for the betterment of the game for the next four years,” Munawar maintained.
His rival group headed by Naurez Shakoor, who was holding the PCF president’s post prior to the recent the elections, has refused to accept the results and has requested the POA for arbitration.
“I had nominated Naurez Shakoor as PCF president twice, but now I’ve come forward myself since the game has been destroyed,” said Munawar, himself a former national cyclist.
Secretary-general Azhar Ali Shah and vice-president Dr Fauzia Javed were also present on the occasion.
“Former secretary of the PCF, Khawaja Idris, has been at the helm for the last 16 years, but is not ready to give details of accounts of the PCF,” said Munawar.
He added that everyone has a right to go to the POA for arbitration, but he did not deem it necessary because the elections were held according to the PCF constitution.
“In the PCF constitution there is no clause to declare any body as defunct for not holding elections and as the general-council members of that meeting had overruled the objection about the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa status, the objection has no legal standing,” Munawar elaborated.
Meanwhile, Azhar said he could not hold the elections of his body in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for different reasons, but claimed he had taken his general body into confidence over the delay.
However, as the PCF constitution has no clause to declare any body as defunct, the objection is unconstitutional, he commented.
While announcing ‘Vision for Development of Cycling’ programme, Munawar during the news conference disclosed a 15-point agenda that includes three to four international level competitions annually in addition to binding the affiliated units to hold at least four events at local/provincial level annually and two at the national level.
The PCF will also be co-sponsor of special events such as the ‘Tour of Himalayas’ and ‘Kaghan Mountain Rally’ besides promotion of recreational bicycling like ‘Tour of Lahore Canal,’ ‘Old City Tour’ in Lahore and in all major locations, it was announced.
The PCF would also repair the country’s lone cycling velodrome in Lahore and it would be dedicated to late national champion Mohammad Hafeez, the PCF president said.
“Efforts would also be launched to win grants for constructing velodromes in Peshawar and Karachi within two years,” said Munawar. The PCF chief said that the federation would dedicate the 59th National Cycling Championship Trophy to Shahrukh, an Olympian and silver medallist who was Pakistan’s most famous cyclists.
