ISLAMABAD, July 5: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Thursday while dismissing a petition filed against the government move to bring Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) under the control of Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) observed that a Supreme Court order had already safeguarded the interest of the POA.  

Hearing the petition filed by POA through their counsel Ali Raza, IHC judge Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui observed that the Supreme Court in its judgment of May 8, 2012 held that, “the Pakistan Olympic Association was not affected by the impugned judgment and remains unaffected by our present decision.”

The apex court in its judgment gave volleyball, handball, cycling and gymnastic federations under the jurisdiction of the PSB but allowed the POA to work as a separate entity. Advocate Raza told Dawn that the court’s observations which have also been incorporated in its final judgment not only secured the POA and refrained PSB from interfering in its affairs but also made possible the participation of dozens of athletes in the forthcoming London Olympics.

“The PSB interference into the affairs of POA would result in the suspension of Pakistans membership in the Olympic Association,” he added.

He also produced a letter of International Olympic Association (IOA) of July 3, 2012 addressed to president POA Lt-Gen (retired) Syed Arif Hassan in which they warned of suspension of Pakistans membership if the government would interfere in the internal affairs of the sports organization.