Ahsan Iqbal questions Pakistan Olympic chief’s ‘dismal performance’

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz Central Secretary General Ahsan Iqbal has raised questions about the poor performance of Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) President Lt-Gen (retd) Arif Hasan, who had been clinging to the slot since 2004.

In a tweet, Iqbal also urged Army Chief Gen Syed Asim Munir to intervene to save the POA from further brinkmanship and humiliation.

Sharing a long chart of Pakistan’s dismal performance in various sport competition along with the tweet, he said: “Will Lt-Gen (Retd) Arif Hasan be kind enough to explain to the nation the following chart since he has been at the helm of Pakistan Olympics Association since 2004 and since then been managing to get himself re-elected through all kinds of means. He refused to accept two term limit endorsed by SC (Supreme Court). This chart speaks for the disasters his tenures have inflicted on Pakistani sports. I request COAS (chief of army staff) to intervene in this matter because he considers himself not answerable to any authority in Pakistan and has ruined the sports in Pakistan. A shake up at Pakistan Olympics Association is urgently needed. No more humiliation acceptable.”

Will Lt Gen (Retd) Arif Hasan be kind enough to explain to the nation the following chart since he has been at the helm of Pakistan Olympics Association since 2004 and since then been managing to get himself re-elected through all kinds of means. He refused to accept two term… pic.twitter.com/RHTHaJBI6t

— Ahsan Iqbal (@betterpakistan) October 10, 2023

In 2021, following Pakistan’s medal-less performance at the Tokyo Olympics, the then Special Assistant to the Prime Minister, Shahbaz Gill, and former Minister for Inter-Provincial Coordination, Dr. Fehmida Mirza, called for the resignation of Arif Hasan, who had held his position since 2004.

In response to the demands, Arif Hasan had stated that he would not step down from his role, especially not for individuals who, in his view, had failed in their duty to adequately prepare the athletes for the Tokyo Olympics. A

rif Hasan had emphasized that the Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) operates autonomously, adhering to the International Olympic Committee Charter within Pakistan.

“Office-bearers are elected by the POA’s general council for four-year terms,” he had noted.

Arif Hasan cautioned against government interference in POA matters, citing potential consequences such as the ire of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

Taking a dig at the Athletics Federation of Pakistan President Maj-Gen (retd) Akram Sahi, Arif Hasan had said that individuals who had been defeated twice in previous POA elections, in 2012 and 2016, were attempting to mislead the government.

The aftermath of the 2012 elections resulted in the formation of two parallel bodies within the POA —one led by Arif Hasan, recognized by the IOC, and the other led by Sahi, recognized by the government. Only when the government decided to accept Arif Hasan’s POA did Pakistan manage to avoid suspension by the IOC.