The Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) Normalization Committee (NC), led by chairman Haroon Malik, faced the music on Friday as it briefed the National Assembly’s (NA) Standing Committee on Inter-Provincial Coordination (IPC) regarding the electoral process for the federation.
The meeting highlighted the challenges, delays, and expectations surrounding the PFF’s elections, sparking concerns over transparency and accountability. This development comes during a contentious period between PFF and the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) which is likely to convolute the matter further.
Haroon Malik updated the committee on the phased electoral process, detailing advancements at the district level and outlining upcoming provincial and federation-level elections. According to the committee’s press release, Malik reiterated that the NC was mandated to complete this process, which began in 2021, by December 15, 2024.
Despite these assurances, the committee expressed dissatisfaction, citing the absence of prior documentation for review. As a result, the chairman was directed to submit a comprehensive electoral progress report within seven days in both hard and soft copies.
The committee’s frustrations were compounded by earlier delays. Haroon Malik had skipped the November 19 IPC Standing Committee meeting, citing a clash with the PFF’s extraordinary congress in Lahore.
That congress, which included representatives from FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), was derailed after uninvited departmental representatives forced their way into the venue, claiming to be congress members.
FIFA and AFC representatives subsequently postponed the meeting, which was originally convened to discuss amendments to Article 38 of the PFF constitution—specifically, eligibility criteria for the federation’s presidential slot. No further progress on the matter has been reported.
The PFF’s NC now faces significant pressure to meet its obligations laid out by the NA, particularly in facilitating free and fair elections. The IPC committee expects the normalization process to address the broader challenges plaguing football in the country, including the transparency issues highlighted during the briefing.
The PFF’s prolonged normalization process has drawn criticism from stakeholders both domestically and internationally.
With the spotlight firmly on the NC, its ability to deliver on its mandate by December 2024 remains critical. However, the delays, disruptions, and ongoing disputes surrounding the elections suggest that rebuilding trust in Pakistan’s football governance will require more than meeting deadlines—it will demand unwavering commitment to reform and inclusivity.
For now, all eyes remain on the NC’s next steps, with its upcoming report set to reveal whether Pakistan’s football governance can overcome these ongoing challenges.
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