LAHORE – The Punjab Olympics Association has taken legal action against the Sports Department after it asked the PbOA to vacate its office in the Punjab Stadium vicinity.
Briefing journalists here on Wednesday, PbOA secretary Idris Haider Khawaja said that he invited Sports secretary Ahmed Nawaz for tea but he was handed a notice instead to vacate the offices some sports associations are occupying in the stadium. Idris accused the sports department of creating hurdles in the promotion of sporting activities. The court of Justice Tariq Chaudhary has given a stay order against the notice demanding vacating of the office. Idris said the court has also directed the sports department (SD) to restore their electricity, which was disconnected a weak ago. He said that SD had broke into the offices of Punjab Football and Baseball Associations.
He said that he wanted reconciliation but the SD was looking the other way. “We have asked the SD to work in coordination with the PbOA, but it has always taken a different course.” He further said that if they were targeted like this again, they will approach the International Olympics Committee for help. He also informed that PbOA has written to the chief minister and even Nawaz Sharif for support.
According to an official of the Sports Department, the PbOA and other associations were provided rooms for organizing a sporting event. The rooms were originally meant to be used by sportsmen, referees and other officials. The official informed that the department has already given land to the football association and wondered why the PFA did not have its office in the Football House. The PbOA has its office at Temple Road but they are occupying a room in the Punjab Stadium, he added.
