Path to normalcy: What lies ahead for Pak football after PFF provincial elections

Following years of disputes, Pakistan football now has a chance to restore stability and revive its development journey through the formation of a democratically-elected Pakistan Football Federation.

After years of slackness, FIFA-appointed Normalization Committee has been able to complete the electoral process both at the districts and provincial levels to pave way for a successful conduction of the PFF elections inside next 60 days as per the PFF Constitution.

The provincial level elections, which were held at the Ramada Hotel Lahore through secret ballot last week, were smoothly handled by NC which is acting as an electoral committee as per FIFA’s mandate.

As was expected from Punjab, Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz)’s Member Provincial Assembly, Naveed Aslam Lodhi, who is nephew and son-in-law of former PFF secretary and politician Arshad Khan Lodhi (late), was elected as Punjab Football Association’s (PFA) president. He defeated former PFA chief Rana Ashraf 21-17.

Rana has now appealed which has also forced NC to hold the election results notification. However, it is expected that his appeal would be rejected.

Meanwhile, former provincial health minister and seasoned politician of Pakistan Peoples’ Party (PPP) Syed Zahir Shah retained his KP Football Association’s (KPFA) presidential seat when he defeated Col. Mohammad Nouman 12-10 after a tough contest. Zahir also served as PFF vice-president when Faisal Saleh Hayat, also a politician, was the PFF president.

Both Zahir and Nouman had been slapped with a life ban by the PFF disciplinary committee, along with Punjab’s major candidate Rana Ashraf for their alleged role in constituting a parallel PFF and attack on the PFF headquarters, but their ban was lifted just before the elections of the federating units after they explained their position.

Azam Khan, a former Sindh Football Association (SFA) secretary, was elected as Sindh Football Association (SFA) president. He beat Mohammad Anwar from Sanghar 13-12. Actually, it was a battle between the two PPP’s candidates. Azam had joined PPP just a few days before the elections at the provincial level while Anwar was being backed by seasoned football administrator Nasir Karim of District South (Karachi) who was slapped with a life ban by the PFF disciplinary committee recently. Despite being a seasoned PPP activist, Nasir failed to engineer a win for Anwar.

In Balochistan, Jamil Ahmad Sarparah from Mastung defeated former Balochistan Football Association (PBA) president Abdul Rauf Natozai after a grueling contest. Natozai had the backing of Chaman’s seasoned football administrator Haji Saeed Tikko while Jamil, who is younger brother of major football stakeholder Haji Khalil, has attachment with Raisani family which belongs to the PPP.

Initially, it was believed that MNA Jamal Raisani will vie for the BFA presidency but it did not happen.

In the meantime, former PFF vice-president and former PFA chief Sardar Naveed Haider Khan tried to get a stay order against the elections at the Lahore High Court (LHC) but the court rejected his application on the admissibility issue as PFF is a private body.

What’s next?

After completing the electoral process at the provincial level, NC, under Haroon Malik, will now move towards the PFF election to elect the president of the federation. The PFF presidency has acquired a huge status and everyone will try their best to get the coveted seat.

It remains to be seen how this phase would be handled as eligibility issues may create a big problem. If elections are held as per constitution of the PFF then it will create a big confusion as hardly a few people may be eligible to contest. However, if NC sets new rules, then things could be more interesting.

The PFF Constitution states that “a candidate for the office of the President PFF shall have played an active role as member PFF Congress, Member PFF Executive Committee, PFF Elected Official, AFC, FIFA for at least 2 of the Preceding 5 years before being proposed as a candidate (i.e. The candidate for President PFF shall have been the member PFF Congress, PFF Executive and PFF Elected Official, AFC, FIFA Official / Member Committee for at least 2 of the preceding last 5 years.”

If elections are held under this clause, then former PFF chief Faisal Saleh Hayat may get the benefit as he was part of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) as vice-president during its previous set-up which lasted till elections of the continental body were held on February 1, 2023, in Manama.

If all congress members are allowed to contest the elections for the PFF presidency then besides Faisal Saleh Hayat, Syed Zahir Shah and Naveed Aslam Lodhi would be big candidates for the presidential slot.

Before the problems started affecting Pakistan football in April 2015 the PFF’s presidency value was not that much as it is these days. FIFA and AFC are now investing a lot in football which is why the football federation has acquired a big status in Pakistan’s sports structure due to its financially stable position.

PFF Congress

There are 26 members of the PFF Congress. Provinces have three votes each while there is a vote of Pakistan Football Referees Association (PFRA), WAPDA, Army, Pakistan Air Force (PAF), Navy, Police, Higher Education Commission (HEC), Railways, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), women national champions, Islamabad and three women seats.

NC have the mandate until December 15, 2024, to complete the electoral process of the PFF and hand over powers to the newly elected body.

Majority of the stakeholders want smooth transition of powers as according to them they cannot see Pakistan football suffer more.