KHURRAM SHEHZAD :

Hijacking of Sports Federations

For decades, Pakistan’s sports federations have been dominated by serving and retired army and forces officers. Positions like president and secretary are often occupied by generals and brigadiers, leaving little room for civilian leadership or professional sports administrators. Elections are frequently symbolic, and constitutions are ignored or amended to prolong tenure. This centralization of power transformed federations from athlete-focused institutions into unaccountable administrative fiefdoms.

Corruption and Financial Mismanagement

Despite billions in government grants, Pakistan Sports Board funding, sponsorships, and international allocations, most federations failed to invest in infrastructure, youth development, or training facilities. Ghost camps, inflated expenses, and foreign tours for officials rather than athletes became common. Audited accounts were rarely published, leaving funds unaccounted for while grassroots sports suffered.

Favoritism and Selection Manipulation

Athlete selection has become a matter of connections rather than merit. Military teams dominate national competitions, and institutional players are consistently favored. Provincial and club-level talent is sidelined, while athletes who question authority face exclusion or punishment. Selection committees, controlled by officers, ensure loyalty over performance, eroding trust in the system.

Facts and Figures:

According to the reliable sources Generals and their handlers have squandered trillions the details of which is as follows:

Hockey: President Bregadier Khalid Sajjad Khokhar diverted Rs 280 million to his relatives company in the name of purchasing Astroturf and Took commission.

Pakistan Sports Board corruption: DG pakistan Sports Board Col Asif Zaman broke the all time record of corruption in the name of renovation of Liaquat Gymnasium and Jinnah Sports complex. He got the commission of Rs 185 milions .

Cricket: In cricket Chairman PCB Gen touqir Zia occupied the cricket board and embezzled Rs 870 million but also trampled on merit and mada his son Junaid Zia debut in the Test cricket and made him part of pakistan cricket team thereby violating the rights of the rightful owners. Gen Touqir zia looted funds in the name of rebuilding the domestic cricket structure.

Athletics Federation of Pakistan: President Athletics Federation of Pakistan (AFP) Gen(r) Muhammad Akram Sahi made the corruption of Rs 477 million in the matters of athletics federation. He took huge bribes to get various athletics to participate in the international competitions. Gen Akram Sahi controlled the athletics federation for two decades, he scattered the merit and once sent of his relative female athlete who was pregnant abroad to participate in the atheltics event.

Pakistan Olympic Association Maafia : Gen Arif Hassan who occupied the Pakistan olympic Association (POA) for two decades, he mad corruption of Rs 2.3 billion in the Association, he violated the memeber federation election procedures and made his handlers in the high official postions in the federations and violated the rules and regulations for two decades. he never conducted free and fair elections and always used his handlers who were appointed on the higher postions and occupied the Association. Gen Arif Hassan who appointed Sec Khalid mehmood as a front man who violated the association matters and involved the human trafficking and was then dismissed and imposed life time ban by the ministry of IPC on the approved charges of corruption and human trafficking.

Corruption in Pakistan Taekwondo Federation: Preseident Pakistan taekwondo federation Col Muhammad Wasim janjua looted the amount of Rs 460 million in the name of making taekwondo academy and purchasing equipment’s. He also appointed a girl Najia Khan to an important position in the federation and went around world with her. Col Wasim had an illicit sexual realationship with Naia and violated the rights of the rightful owners.

Pakistan squash Federation: Pakkstan Air force Generals occupied the federation for decades they are looting the amount of billiions in the squash federation. Sec Pakistan Squash federation Air Commodore Amir Nawaz is like the kind of corruption in the federation he made corrupton of 6.7 billion in the name of infrastructure and training but lootted the amount.

corruption in Golf Federation: Pakistan Golf federation is occupied by the Army Generals and they are violating the merit and never search any talent from the grass root level but only facilitate the children’s of Armed officers. Golf federation president Gen Qazi Akram violed the merit and made a corruption of Rs760 million in the name of conducting international event but looted all the amount with the help of his handlers. he appointed his relatives and family persons at the higher position in the golf federation.

Corruption and Nepotism in Tennis: Pakistan Tennis federation is under the control of an alcoholic secretary Col Ziauddin who embezzled the amount of Rs 439 million in the tennis funds and appointed his relatives in the top positions in the tennis federation. According to the facts revealed in the audit report Col ziauddin and President Aisam ul Haq made the corruption of millions in the tennis matters. Col Ziauddin sent his relatives abroad for training and violating the merit.

The Human and National Cost

The ultimate victims are Pakistan’s athletes and sporting reputation. Talent is wasted, international results decline, and grassroots programs collapse. The country’s dwindling presence in Olympic and Asian competitions reflects decades of misgovernance. Experts argue that sports cannot recover until uniformed officers exit federation leadership, transparent audits are enforced, and athlete-focused, professional civilian governance is established.