Zahir’s football acumen helps settle PFF impasse [The News]

ISLAMABAD: Zahir Shah’s football acumen helped settle the impasse as the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) also approved an amendment requiring at least five Congress members’ support for the presidential nomination.

All the amendments as desired by FIFA and AFC were also approved paving the way for the lifting of international suspension. In all probability, the international ban on Pakistan’s team participation will now be lifted within the next few days.

But it was Zahir’s footballing acumen that helped settle the thorny issues with all the stakeholders now heading for free and fair PFF elections within the next two months. In all probabilities the PFF elections will now be held in late April, paving the way for a smooth transition of power to the elected regime.

Zahir also held a meeting with Vahid Kardany (Deputy General secretary AFC), Rolf Tanner — Head of MA governance (FIFA), Phrushottam Kattel (Head of South Asia unit AFC) and Sonam Jigmi (Senior manager of the South Asia unit AFC) to ensure that misunderstanding developed from the last Council meeting could be settled down.

Following the meeting, all the Constitutional amendments and some of the new ones were approved. These include the support of at least five Congress members for the candidate who wants to run for the PFF presidential election. Now only the solid candidate having the required base in Congress could run for the post of PFF President.

The Congress members endorsed the FIFA proposed amendments in the best interest of Pakistan football, paving the way for the national team’s participation in the AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers following the expected lifting of FIFA’s suspension.

The meeting was chaired by the PFF president and chairman of the Normalization Committee (NC), Saud Azim Hashimi along with NC members Muhammad Shahid Niaz Khokhar and Haris Azmat.

AFC Deputy General Secretary Vahid Kardany commended the intention of Congress members regarding bringing the necessary reforms within Pakistan football. He also applauded the efforts of the Normalization Committee in facilitating the process.

The FIFA and AFC left it to Congress to decide on the fate of the three women members who were inducted without following properly laid down criteria. Meanwhile, Chairman of the Normalisation Committee (NC), Saud Azim Hashimi, on behalf of the other NC members, has extended his heartfelt congratulations to the entire football fraternity following the successful approval of the FIFA-proposed amendments during the Extraordinary Congress held in Lahore.

The Congress, chaired by NC Chairman Saud Azim Hashimi, saw a unanimous decision of newly-elected Congress members to approve the amendments, aligning Pakistan’s football governance with FIFA’s statutes.

Published in The News, 1 March 2025

The News also adds:

PFF achieves significant milestone with FIFA constitutional amendments

LAHORE: The Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) has achieved a significant milestone in its efforts to align with international standards after the newly elected Congress unanimously approved FIFA-proposed amendments to the PFF constitution, opening the path for national team’s return to international competition.

The landmark decision, made during an Extraordinary Congress held in Lahore, is expected to lead to the lifting of FIFA’s suspension of Pakistan, allowing the national team to participate in the upcoming AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers.

“This is a historic moment for all of us,” said Saud Azim Hashimi, PFF President and Chairman of the Normalisation Committee (NC). “With the approval of these amendments, we are now in compliance with FIFA’s regulations. This could not have been achieved without the commitment of Congress members.”

The significance of the decision was underscored by the presence of a high-profile delegation from FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), including Vahid Kardany, AFC Deputy General Secretary, and Rolf Tanner, FIFA’s Head of MA Governance.

Kardany commended the Congress members for their commitment to necessary reforms and praised the Normalisation Committee’s efforts in facilitating the process. Hashimi extended his gratitude to all stakeholders who supported the reform process, including the Ministry of Inter-Provincial Coordination (IPC), the Pakistan Sports Board, and the broader football community.