Outgoing DG PSB says he lacked powers, not given enough time
By our correspondent
ISLAMABAD: The outgoing Director General of Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) Col (retd) Mohammad Asif Zaman on Friday said that he was not happy with his tenure as the Board’s chief because he was not given ‘quality time’.
“I am not happy with my tenure as DG PSB because I was not given proper and quality time. I was engaged in court cases throughout from day-one,” Asif told this correspondent’ after he was removed from his post on Friday.
Asif had been appointed as DG PSB in March 2021 for three years. “I wanted to work on long-term projects including Olympics, Asian Games and South Asian Games. We were working on a few developmental projects and some were cancelled by this government. The Karachi project was cancelled and so was the bio-mechanic lab and the things were highly politicised,” Asif said.
“There are so many issues which I cannot discuss at this stage but overall, I am not happy with the way I was treated entirely,” Asif said.
“If you don’t have powers as a DG then the things cannot be run so smoothly and yes, I was not fully empowered and this created a big issue. I am thankful to the whole sports fraternity, federations, Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) and Board’s members for their support during my tenure,” Asif said.
Before Asif’s appointment as PSB boss the post remained vacant for years and normally the joint secretaries of the IPC Ministry were given additional responsibility of also working as acting DG.
And again, the seat was left vacant with the removal of Asif at a time when a few major events are ahead and the country is heading towards hosting the 14th South Asian Games.
In his era as DG PSB Pakistan pulled off a solid performance when it claimed two gold, three silvers and three bronze in the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham recently which was counted as the most impressive display from the Green-shirts after a few decades. However, one bronze was stripped of Pakistan’s tally when wrestler Ali Asad was found guilty of using performance-enhancing substances.
It is pertinent to mention here that Asif is the younger brother of former squash world champion Qamar Zaman and the family has rendered meritorious services for sports in the country.
Meanwhile some senior players also condemned the action of the government to remove Asif from his post.
“It is highly undesirable and brutal act,” a highly experienced player told this correspondent. “He was such a kind DG. He kept helping us entirely during the Commonwealth Games and it was because of his persistent efforts and support to us that we won so many medals in the quadrennial event,” the player said.
Another player said that Asif was down to earth personality and it was easy to talk to him.
“He was down to earth and we always kept in contact with him and he always tried to support us. Being a sportsman he was a gentle DG and we are very sad today that he has been removed,” a senior player, who has done meritorious services for Pakistan said.