LAHORE, Oct 20: Pakistan Judo Federation’s (PJF) former secretary Mahmood Naveed has moved the Lahore High Court (LHC) against the federal Sports Ministry for removing him ‘illegally’ and imposing ad hoc on the body. Talking to Dawn, Mahmood said the LHC had fixed the next hearing of his case on Nov 3.

He said that in his petition against the Ministry of Sports, he contended the ad hoc, which was imposed on the orders of the ministry upon the PJF, was illegal.

He said it was imposed despite the fact the elections were held in Dec 2006 according to the constitution, in which he was elected as secretary.

“In this election meeting, the present director general of the Pakistan Sports Board, Amir Hamza Gilani, was present as an observer from the side of the ministry while the present secretary general of the Pakistan Olympic Association, Abdul Khaliq, was present from the POA. The results of these elections were not disputed by any of these two observers and the federation continued to work unhindered.

“But later on, after a period of more than six months, on flimsy charges, the POA declared the elections invalid and appointed an election committee to hold fresh elections of the federation. While this process was in progress, the Pakistan Sports Board, without giving any reasons, imposed an ad hoc on the Pakistan Judo Federation to hold free and fair elections within a period of three months,” he said.

Most unfortunately enough, he further said, not only the ad hoc committee failed to hold elections within the stipulated time but three out of its total four members got themselves elected as office-bearers, making a mockery of the whole election process.