Office bearers of Pakistan Judo Federation suspended

Press Release

ISLAMABAD (TheSportsNext) August 1, 2012: As a result of the recommendation of an Arbitration Committee set up by Pakistan Olympic Association has suspended the office bearers of Pakistan Judo Federation till the final outcome of the Arbitration proceedings filed by Sindh Judo Association and the Punjab Judo Association.

It may be mentioned here that Sindh Judo Association had filed an Arbitration before the Pakistan Olympic Association against the office bearers of Pakistan Judo Federation on account of financial embezzlements, misuse official powers and unconstitutional acts.

The Arbitration Committee held two meetings on 26th May and 29th June 2012 at Lahore.

After hearing both parties and on the basis of the available record, the Committee came to the conclusion that their was a prima facie case. Immediately on filing the Arbitration by Sindh Judo Association, The President PJF had suspended the Sindh Judo Association and appointed an Adhoc Committee for Sindh which he was not competent to do.

The Committee Arbitration Committee in its meeting of 26th May had ordered that the position of all the parties in the Arbitration shall be as it stood on 2nd April, 2012 when the Arbitration was filed.

In its meeting held on 29th June at Lahore, the Arbitrary Committee, among others decided that –

i) The meeting of the General Council in which the elections were held was illegal because it was against the instructions of POA, the same was not attended by any representative of POA to oversee the proceedings and it lacked participation of some governmental Units as well as due to the fact that Sindh and Punjab Judo Associations were not invited to participate in the said meeting.

ii) Since the meeting in which elections were held was illegal, the office bearers are not properly and constitutionally elected office bearers.

iii) As the office bearers of PJF are not properly and constitutionally elected, they are suspended till the final outcome of the Arbitration Committee.

iv) All actions taken by PJF after 5th May, 2012 i.e. the date of constitution of the Arbitrary Committee are declared nul and void. This also includes the appointment of Adhoc Committee for Sindh.

In view of the decision taken by Pakistan Olympic Association on the recommendation of the Arbitration Committee, there no so called Adhoc Committee in Sindh. The affairs of the game of Judo are being looked after and supervised, as usual, by Sindh Judo Association which is the duly elected representative body of Judo in Sindh.