LAHORE, June 24: The Honourable District Judge Islamabad West has upheld the orders of the Honourable Civil Judge, Islamabad by declaring that the ‘Interim Committee of the Pakistan Olympic Association’ (POA) has no legal standing whatsoever.

A press release issued by the Arif Hasan-led POA here on Monday said: “The verdict, delivered on June 11, 2013, has been issued on the appeal of one Asif Bajwa who is impersonating himself as the chairman of the so-called ‘POA Interim Committee.’

“The excerpts of the last paragraph (8) of the verdict clearly state: “I am of the opinion that the impugned order, judgment of the learned trial court are eminently reasonable and proceeds on cogent grounds to which no exception can be taken. However, this court is of the considered opinion that cost of Rs50,000 is not in consonance with Section 35-A(2) and the same is reduced to Rs25,000. With this partialmodification the instant appeal having failed to inspire confidence and devoid of merits is dismissed.

“The POA is sharing the judgment with all concerned so that the legal status of the so-called illegal Interim Committee is clear in their eyes and minds as well as the general public,” concluded the POA press release.

The Asif Bajwa-led interim-committee has received a hefty amount of fund to the tune of Rs80 million from the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB)to reorganise the 32nd edition of the National Games in Islamabad from June 28.

The PSB has also been supporting Bajwa’s body by providing it all its facilities to hold the Games.