Democracy Smothered in Sports — Gross Misuse of Sports Policy

 

Musarrat ullah Jan – KikxNow . digital creator

In spite of lofty declarations about sports development in the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the facts are as distant as ever. As per sports policy, a person who is elected to an association or any sports gathering once cannot be re-elected for the same office for the second time. Sadly, this norm is being repeatedly flouted.

It seems most sports associations ignore this policy, and maintain no code of conduct. Several associations have also held elections in secret with Sports Directorate officials participating in them. Subsequent to the elections, surprise photos appeared, indicating some people had been re-appointed to the same posts they were already in.

The most shocking thing is that most of the sports associations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are not even registered with any government organization like the Pakistan Sports Board or Sports Directorate. Yet, they portray themselves as "national representatives" and receive favors and allotments.

Most of these sport bodies are controlled by persons who have been affiliated with these bodies for generations. Some have put their relatives in influential jobs, while others have themselves been serving in one capacity or another for decades. In some of these bodies, members of the same family have held the most critical positions for many years.

The Provincial Sports Directorate and the Pakistan Sports Board are deaf and dumb witnesses to all such violations. There are no queries, no notifications, and no action against anyone. The "KPO" (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Olympic), an umbrella body, has never made an effort to inquire from any association when their elections were conducted and how the same people kept sitting in the same jobs. This inaction clearly shows the institution's bias and lack of action.

The majority of associations that portray themselves as representing sports in the 35 districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa exist only in Peshawar, Mardan, Nowshera, and Charsadda. Representatives from these districts are consistently hired for significant sports roles, whereas other districts are neglected altogether. Some associations have not even organized elections but still try to project themselves as "representatives" and remain active in the media as well as in policy-making. This anti-democratic conduct is clear proof of individual monopolies in the sports field.

Pakistan Sports Policy 2005 and its Amendments

Under the National Sports Policy 2005 of the Federal Government:

 

(Clause 3.7 & 3.8 – Restriction of Tenure): "No office-bearer of any National Sports Federation or Association shall hold office for more than two consecutive terms."

(Clauses 3.9 – Democratic Norms): "Elections shall be held in a democratic, transparent, and fair manner according to the promulgated constitution of the federation."

(Clauses 6.2 – Registration & Recognition): "Only registered and recognized sporting organizations shall be considered for government support, funding or representation."

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Sports Policy 2016/2022

Tenure Limits: "No one should serve the same office for more than two terms. Democratic leadership succession is necessary for sports development."

District Representation: "Associations need to be represented by at least a majority of districts to become provincial."

Mandatory Registration: "Unregistered associations will not be qualified to receive grants, recognition, or representation."

As per the law:

Holding office for more than two terms = Blatant policy breach.

Unregistered associations obtaining official representation = Vested interest maladministration.

Holding office without an open electoral process = Deprivation of democracy.

Family monopolies = Conflict of interest.

If the Sports Directorate, KPO, or Pakistan Sports Board fail to observe these violations, it is also negligence, bias, and a breach of policy.

This is not only bad for provincial sports but also shows that democratic values, transparency, and merit are being seriously overruled in the sports system. It is now time for sports institutions to enact meaningful reforms rather than just making symbolic declarations.