IJF representative hails Pak Judo Federation’s elections

ISLAMABAD, Aug 28 (APP): International Judo Federation’s (IJF) representative Gerard Benone, who had come to Pakistan to observe Saturday’s elections of Pakistan Judo Federation (PJF), expressed satisfaction that the elections were held according to the norms and rules set up by the world governing body of the game.
“The objective of my presence here was to observe PJF elections. These were conducted in a professional way. There are a few countries, whose national judo federations hold their elections in such a manner,” Benone told APP after the PJF elections.
He said that he had found members of the PJF’s affiliated units taking part in the elections enthusiastically. He said he was happy to find that women were also given a fair chance and representation in the elections as par international standards.
“Women are part of our community and in today’s election they were 20 per cent part of it. I’m really happy to see them taking part in the whole process and also leading. Not all the countries have such a great women participation in the election process,” he added.
“My job was to observe these elections and as I’ve already stated these have been held in a professional manner. I’ve also seen their (PJF’s) constitutional. It has been properly updated. I’ll be submitting a report to IJF and this will be a very good report,” he said.
To a question whether Pakistan was safe for international sports activities, he said: “Terrorism is a menace and every country in the world is facing it.”
He said that he had found Pakistani people very nice and friendly and was happy to be in such a wonderful country. Pakistan Army’s Sports Directorate secretary Col Junaid Alam was elected as president of Pakistan Judo Federation (PJF), while Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Masnoor Ahmed was elected as its secretary for the next four-year term on Saturday.
The elections were held here at a local hotel, the other day in which 26 members of affiliated units of PJF took part to elect their representatives.
The outgoing PJF president Col Rana Shujat Ali, who completed two tenures, was elected as Chairman of the federation. Professor Dr Ibadat Yar Khan was elected as senior vice-president, Dr Bashir Ahmed, Abdul Malik, and the outgoing secretary Masood Ahmed, who also completed two tenures were elected as vice presidents. Fehmida Butt was elected as PJF women wing’s vice president.
The PJF will elect one more vice-president in its General Council meeting. Besides, eight-members of executive council were elected for the next term. International Judo Federation’s (IJF) representative Gerard Benone observed the elections.
Except for secretary’s slot, all other office-bearers were elected unopposed. For the PJF secretary’s slot there were three candidates in the run – Mansoor Ahmed of KPK, Pakistan Army’s Zafar Iqbal and WAPDA’s Ramzan Butt. Mansoor, who is also elder brother of Masood Ahmed, bagged 15 votes, while the other two contestants got two votes each.