Former Pakistan captain Kaleemullah likely to contest PFF presidential elections

Although FIFA had recently suspended Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) but the ban can be lifted anytime soon since the newly-elected PFF Congress will approve the draft of the proposed amendments.

But in the background the aspirants of the PFF presidency are making their full efforts to pave their way for ensuring their success in the elections, which will be held most probably inside a couple of months after the suspension is lifted.

One of the major aspirants of the PFF’s presidency is former Pakistan captain Kaleemullah. Having served Pakistan football for years as a player and captain Kaleem will contest the elections for the PFF’s presidency.

The former professional player, who has played leagues around the world also including United States, is expected to emerge as one of the strong candidates. Nukta has learnt that he has started lobbying to ensure he becomes the first international footballer to win the PFF’s presidency.

Kaleem, whose international football career was cut short by disputes in Pakistan’s football which made the sport inactive for years, has strong links not only in Pakistan’s political and military circles but also in football circle both at home and abroad.

Kaleem, who had guided Pakistan to a historic series win in India in 2014 as skipper, is the nephew of Balochistan Assembly speaker Captain (retd) Abdul Khaliq Khan Achakzai. Captain Abdul Khaliq had won the provincial assembly seat as an independent candidate but joined the ruling PML (N) and is serving as speaker.

Kaleem’s brother Attaullah Khan is the District Chaman president of the PML (N). Being a fine footballer he is also respected in the military circles.

Even some top cricketers have started lobbying for Kaleem, who will need 13 votes to win the PFF’s presidency elections. Congress strength has been reduced to 25 after Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) lost its Congress membership due to its inactiveness in football.

Kaleem not only has served Pakistan as a player and captain but also has been seen organizing football events. He a few years ago through the support of the Pakistan Peoples Party’s (PPP) supremo Bilawal Bhutto also organized a football event at the Peoples Sports Complex Karachi.

The newly-elected PFF Congress member and a renowned politician Syed Zahir Shah is also considered a strong candidate to win the PFF’s presidency.

Zahir, also a former Health Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and former provincial supremo of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), has the support of Asif Ali Zardari, the president of Pakistan.

According to sources Zahir also has started his campaign to achieve success in the coming PFF’s elections which will be too tricky if the Congress approves the proposed amendments as the criteria for the PFF’s presidency eligibility in that case will be made wide open.

Zahir Shah also served as PFF vice-president for years when former PFF’s president and a seasoned politician Faisal Saleh Hayat was acting as the PFF President.

Zahir has been serving as president of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Football Association for the past many years.

Faisal, also a former vice-president of Asian Football Confederation (AFC), is also expected to contest the PFF elections.

However, he has kept mum and even sources close to him are unaware of his intent whether he will run for the PFF’s presidency or not.

It would be interesting to see how the things go.

The PFF Normalization Committee also has seen a change as its leadership as its chairman Haroon Malik is leaving the post. His contract has not been extended and February 15 will be his last day as NC’s chairman. FIFA have already appointed NC’s member Saud Hashmi as his replacement.

Saud, who has been working from day-1 in the Haroon-led NC, is expected to conduct fair and transparent elections of the PFF.