PFF power struggle forces Congress postponement [The News]

by Abdul Mohi Shah

ISLAMABAD: A deepening power struggle within the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) has once again brought the country’s football administration to a standstill, as the PFF Congress meeting was postponed following a show of strength by the Barrister Taha Ali Zai Group.

Details gathered by this correspondent revealed that the postponement stemmed from a walkout by the Ali Zai Group, which commands a majority in the PFF Congress. Out of the 24 available Congress members, as many as 13 chose not to participate in the meeting after what they described as the denial of “genuine participation” to certain stakeholders.

The controversy erupted when representatives of Pakistan Air Force (PAF) and Pakistan Railways, both members included in the Congress were reportedly barred from taking their seats in the meeting. According to sources, the two representatives arrived with official authorization letters from their respective departments, yet were not permitted to sit in the Congress on the grounds that their participation could not be entertained at this stage.

This decision triggered strong protests from the Ali Zai Group, which insists that the inclusion of PAF and Railways has already been ratified and that denying them participation was a clear violation of Congress norms. In response, the group collectively withdrew from the meeting, making it impossible for the Congress to proceed and forcing its postponement.

“The decision to pull out was unanimous,” a member of the Ali Zai Group told this correspondent. “PAF and Railways were carrying genuine departmental letters, yet they were denied their rightful place. Under such circumstances, we could not legitimize the proceedings by staying.”

The PFF Congress, which holds the supreme authority in football governance, was expected to deliberate on several crucial matters, most notably the election of the PFF Secretary and the audit of the Pakistan Football Federation Normalization Committee (NC) for the past two years (as demanded by FIFA), issues seen as vital for restoring transparency and stability in the sport.

While the Ali Zai Group stayed away, 11 Congress members belonging to the Hafiz Zaka Group attended the meeting. This number included two members from Sindh, Kafayatullah and Siddique who alleged they had faced day-long abduction attempts prior to the meeting. Despite these claims, both members not only attended but also addressed the Congress, expressing their views during the brief session.

However, the absence of the majority bloc rendered the meeting ineffective. With 13 out of 24 Congress members missing, the quorum and legitimacy of any decision came under question, ultimately leading to the formal postponement.

When contacted, PFF President Mohsen Gilani attributed the situation to extraordinary circumstances. “Quite a few members were abducted or prevented from attending,” he claimed. “We provided air tickets and arranged accommodation, yet they did not turn up. Under these conditions, we had no option but to postpone the Congress meeting.”

Published in The News, 30 December 2025