Pakistan Olympic Association Decides on Next Leadership Ahead of Election
The elections are scheduled for December 30th in Lahore.
ISLAMABAD: Arif Saeed, president of the Pakistan Rugby Union (PRU), and Khalid Mahmood, president of the Pakistan Boxing Federation (PBF), are poised to be unanimously elected as president and secretary, respectively, in the upcoming Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) election.
The elections are scheduled for December 30th in Lahore. According to well-placed sources, both Arif and Khalid have filed their nomination papers, with significant backing from the POA electoral college. Arif, a prominent figure in Pakistan’s sports and business community, is seeking to unite support from both the government and the electoral body. Meanwhile, Khalid has secured widespread endorsement for his fourth consecutive term as POA secretary.
Arif Saeed has been at the helm of the Pakistan Rugby Union for 25 years, often funding its operations through personal resources. His contributions extend beyond rugby, having served as a member of the Interim Management Committees (IMC) of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) under both Najam Sethi and Zaka Ashraf.
The Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) has also endorsed Arif’s candidacy in the Pakistan Olympic Association election, signaling a potential resolution to long-standing tensions between the PSB and POA.
Read More: Mickey Arthur Questions PCB’s Decision to Rest Shaheen Afridi
Arif’s election is expected to pave the way for improved relations between the PSB and POA, focusing on collaboration for the national interest. The contentious clause in the National Sports Policy limiting officials to two four-year terms has been a major source of discord, even bringing POA close to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) suspension in 2015.
Khalid Mahmood first assumed the role of POA secretary in 2012 alongside then-president Lt Gen (R) Syed Arif Hasan. Over his three previous terms, Khalid has navigated significant challenges, including the POA’s near-suspension by the IOC during its disputes with the PSB. His re-election for a fourth term underscores the confidence in his ability to steer the organization through complex governance issues.
