In a major development, just as the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) gears up for its much-delayed elections on May 20, the PFF’s Ethics and Disciplinary Committee has slapped a 10-year ban on Syed Zahir Ali Shah, the sitting President of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Football Association (KPFA).
The ban was confirmed late Sunday, sending shockwaves through Pakistan’s footballing circles, as he was considered one of the frontrunners for the PFF presidency. Zahir Ali Shah was reportedly heavily involved in helping pass FIFA’s legislation, which helped restore Pakistan’s status in the international arena, clearing the way for its return to international football.
He has been given 15 days to lodge an appeal, but as things stand, his hopes of contesting in the upcoming elections—or playing any formal role in football administration—are effectively over.
This isn’t the first time Zahir Ali Shah has found himself barred from PFF elections and any football-related activity. In 2018, he was among a group of officials who participated in parallel elections for the PFF—polls held under the directives of the Supreme Court but not recognized by FIFA.
That episode triggered a long-running crisis in Pakistan football, leading to FIFA suspending the country multiple times and eventually installing the Normalisation Committee (NC) in September 2019 to restore order and conduct fresh elections.
The same Ethics and Disciplinary Committee that handed Zahir his latest ban had previously issued life bans to several officials for their role in forming that breakaway body—accusing them of derailing football governance and violating FIFA statutes.
Critics continue to accuse the NC of using disciplinary measures to eliminate political rivals and secure a favorable voting bloc ahead of the presidential election. Allegations of preferential treatment have also surfaced, throwing the upcoming elections into early chaos.
The NC has already outlined the electoral process, which kicks off this week with the submission of nominations for the PFF Executive Committee. With Zahir Ali Shah out of the PFF elections picture—pending any successful appeal—the election landscape for Pakistan football has shifted dramatically.
As for the PFF itself, the countdown to May 20 continues—but with renewed questions over transparency, neutrality, and the long-term future of the sport in the country.