ISLAMABAD, Oct 20 (APP): Pakistan Judo Federation (PJF) has requested the government to stop an ex-PJF secretary from forming a parallel sports body by holding fake body elections.
“Yes, our president Col Junaid Alam has approached Minister for Inter Provincial Coordination Mian Riaz Hussain Pirzada and requested him to take action against ex-PJF secretary Mehmood Naveed, who has announced to hold elections on
October 24,” Mansoor Ahmed, secretary PJF told APP on Thursday.
He said that the PJF president had briefed the minister in detail as how attempts were being made to form a parallel body by holding fake elections.
“The minister has been requested to personally look into the matter,” he stated.
“Our elections were held in the August, this year in the presence of International Judo Federation’s (IJF) representative Gerard Benone, who had been deputed
by world governing body of the game to observer these elections. Around 26 members of affiliated units of PJF had taken part in those elections and elected their representatives for next four years,” he added.
He stated that the August’s elections were held under the supervision of an impartial Elections Commission, headed by a retired judge Muhammad Alam Zeb Khan.
In those elections, Pakistan Army’s Sports Directorate Secretary Col Junaid Alam was elected as president of PJF, while Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Mansoor Ahmed was elected as its secretary for a four-year term.
Professor Dr Ibadat Yar Khan was elected as senior vice-president, Dr Bashir Ahmed, Abdul Malik and Masood Ahmed were elected as vice presidents. Fehmida Butt was elected as PJF women wing’s vice president.
Mansoor claimed that Mehmood had the backing of some influential people. “His tenure has been a total failure. He failed to deliver as Pakistan got no success at the international level during his tenure. He had been involved in several illegal activities. Now he is again out there to destroy the game of judo in Pakistan,” Mansoor said.
“We are the only judo body in the country which is recognized by IJF, Judo Union of Asia and Pakistan Olympic Association. We receive government’s grant and send our judokas to other countries to represent Pakistan. Our next elections will take place after four years,” Mansoor stated.
He said that the federation was also considering to move the court to stop Mehmood’s illegal activities.
It may be pointed out here that the IJF representative Gerard Benone after the PJF elections had expressed satisfaction that these were held according to the norms and rules set up by the world governing body of the game.
“These (elections) were conducted in a professional way.
There are a few countries, whose national judo federations hold their elections in such a manner,” Benone had stated while talking to this news agency.
