KARACHI, Jan 24: The Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) has successfully cleared the first hurdle ahead of their polls by conducting the Sindh Olympic Association’s (SOA) elections and bringing the men of their choice at the helm of affairs.

It is alleged that strings of almost all the affiliated associations of the SOA are pulled from the corridors of power with firm instructions to support the POA-backed panel irrespective of likes and dislikes.

The POA’s next venture was to see the elections of another unit — the Punjab Olympic Association — take place smoothly on Jan 31. But news coming from Lahore suggests that all is not well in the city which also house the POA headquarters.

A couple of provincial sports bodies in Punjab including baseball have already raised a lot of hue and cry against the incumbents.

The secretary of the Punjab Baseball Association, Khawar Shah, moved court and secured a stay order from Civil Judge Lahore, Gulzar Ahmed against holding the Punjab Olympic Association’s general council meeting on Dec 3. He has since emerged as a candidate for the secretary’s post, posing a threat to Idrees Haider Khwaja. The latter was severely criticised for the Punjab’s poor show at the 30th National Games held in Karachi last year.

Then there’s a dispute in the Punjab Judo Association that resulted in imposition of adhoc by the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) last month with the task to hold elections within three months.

Last but not the least, there are no less than three basketball bodies that are currently existing in Punjab. One faction (Khalid Bashir group) is recognised by the Punjab Olympic Association but not by the concerned federation. The Pakistan Amateur Basketball Federation (PABF) supports Shaikh Mohammad Naeem’s body while Maudood Jaffery runs a third association which had the blessings of Punjab Sports Board.

Meanwhile, after months of tug-of-war between the warring factions, the cash-strapped SOA seems to have return on the track with the holding of elections by a POA committee.

Virtually, with no money in its kitty, the SOA has been kept alive through a ventilator since all big names who occupied top posts in the successive set-ups have proved worthless.

This is evident from the fact that no sincere efforts have been made to establish a permanent office of SOA, what to say of promotion of sports.

A lavish secretariat was established in the city on the eve of last year’s National Games on a huge rent with an eye on the PST/PSB funds. The premises were, however, surrendered after the games.

The new SOA president Dr. Mohammad Ali Shah faces a challenging task to control 30 plus associations. But to govern SOA is a different ball game and it would be wise if Shah set short and long term targets for himself, get the SOA an office in addition to restoring its image that was tarnished during the National Games.

He should also constitute a committee aimed at supervising sports in cash and kind and should make sure that the talented players of the interior of Sindh are not be deprived.

The POA is to elect its office-bearers for the next four-year term at Lahore on Feb 9.