letter to president of pakistan and prime minister of pakistan

 

Respected Sir,

President of Pakistan
Mr. Asif Ali Zardari

Prime Minister of Pakistan
Mr. Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif

President
Pakistan Football Federation
Mr. Mohsin Gilani

With due respect, I wish to submit that the recent incident involving the alleged arrest and subsequent release of two elected Congress Members of the Pakistan Football Federation, followed by conflicting statements, press releases, and video messages, has caused serious concern at the national level. More importantly, it has damaged the credibility, institutional seriousness, and international standing of Pakistan football and the Federation.

It is deeply troubling that the explanations issued in relation to this incident are mutually contradictory. This has created the impression that instead of a transparent, fact-based process, the matter has been advanced through a pre-determined and managed narrative.

According to available information, one Congress Member was taken into police custody at approximately 10:00 p.m. on 21 December. However, neither the President of the Sindh Football Association nor the second Congress Member, Mr. Kifayatullah, was informed at that time, despite the fact that Mr. Kifayatullah was present at a football tournament as a chief guest. After the match concluded, Mr. Kifayatullah was also taken into police custody. It is a matter of serious concern that an elected Congress Member was kept in custody for nearly fourteen hours while the relevant provincial football association remained completely uninformed.

Furthermore, immediately after the detention of Mr. Kifayatullah, a press release was issued by the Sindh Football Association claiming that the Congress Members were detained in connection with the electoral process. At that time, both Congress Members were at unknown locations and there was no direct contact with them. This raises serious questions about the basis and credibility of such claims. In the same sequence, a video statement issued by Colonel Noman made references toward the leadership of a specific political party, without any verified evidence or direct confirmation. Such statements amount to speculation and unsubstantiated allegations.

Similarly, the video statement of Mr. Siddique contains several serious inconsistencies. According to his account, he was arrested by the SHO of Koozing No. 4 Police Station and later released from the same station. Given that his residence is located approximately one kilometer from the police station, a fundamental legal question arises. If the arrest was illegal and involved a violation of the sanctity of his home, why was no written complaint, FIR, or legal action initiated against the concerned SHO, particularly despite claims that the President of Pakistan, Prime Minister, Minister of Defence, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and the Army Chief were all contacted regarding the matter.

Additionally, the Sindh Football Association publicly adopted the position that both Congress Members had been abducted. However, in the subsequent video statements issued by the Congress Members themselves, there is no mention of abduction. On the contrary, they clearly stated that they were taken into police custody. Mr. Kifayatullah specifically stated that after brief questioning, he was informed that he was not a wanted individual and was then released. In this context, the abduction claim and the attempt to link the incident to elections clearly indicate an effort to deliberately politicize the matter, which is regrettable and contrary to institutional norms.

It is also concerning that despite claims by Mr. Siddique that all relevant state institutions would conduct investigations and that evidence is available, no verifiable proof has been presented on any forum to date. If evidence truly exists and responsible individuals have been identified, the continued ambiguity only raises further questions.

Most alarming is the fact that this issue was taken directly to FIFA through formal correspondence, despite the constitutional and legal framework of the Pakistan Football Congress requiring that such matters first be addressed through the relevant internal forums of the Pakistan Football Federation.

In light of the above, it is respectfully requested that all aspects of this matter, including the position of the Sindh Football Association, the video statements issued by Colonel Noman, and the statements of both Congress Members, be reviewed in an impartial, transparent, and comprehensive manner. These accounts are clearly contradictory and continue to undermine the credibility of the institution.

It is further requested that until a complete, fact-based investigation is concluded, all individuals and institutions refrain from naming or accusing any person, organization, or political party. Allegations made without evidence not only create legal complications but also cause irreparable harm to the reputation and dignity of individuals and institutions.

It is hoped that prompt, effective, and constitutionally sound action will be taken in this sensitive and serious matter so that the truth may come to light and Pakistan football can be protected from further damage.

Sincerely,

Muhammad Israr Bangash
Member, Technical Committee
Pakistan Football Federation