PCF to give central contracts to cyclists

The newly-elected president of the Pakistan Cycling Federation Munawar Baseer Tuesday came up with a comprehensive development programme in the country with plans to give central contract to top national players.
In his maiden press conference after election as president, Baseer said that it was the general council of the PCF that elected his panel with majority of 13 votes while just three stood against him out of the 15 affiliated units in the election meeting. He further stated that the Pakistan Olympics Association President Lt Gen (retd) Arif Hassan and Pakistan Sports Board Director General Amir Hamza Gilani had sent him congratulatory letters on his election so there was no login in opposition’s demand for the formation of an arbitration commission to get the PCF elections defunct.
“The PCF general council is the supreme body and there is no defunct clause in the PCF constitution. Only the units having submitted their annual fee are believed to be functional,” he said.
New PCF secretary Syed Azhar Ali, who was also present on the occasion along with Dr Fauzia Javed and Syed Iqbal of Railways sports, also showed the email correspondence with former PCF secretary Idris Haider Khawaja till September 21 asking for the receipt of Rs 50,000 given to the KPK Cycling Association. “The following day the body led by myself was declared defunct because he (Idris) came to know that I was running as secretary against him,” he added.
The new president further informed that they raised Rs 8 million for Tour de Pakistan Cycle Race and later Rs 4 million but Kh Idris did not give any account of funds. He also alleged that former officials failed to get cycling velodrome in shape let alone the establishment of second velodrome at KPK when money was already sanctioned by the then Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali.
Baseer said that he had taken over just for the promotion of the sport and wanted to work for the welfare of the cyclists. “We have chalked out a comprehensive programme and right now about 10 people are working at the Cycling Velodrome cutting the extra grass at the only cycling arena of the country,” he maintained. “Col Tahir of Army got vacated rooms at the veledrome and we have decided to dedicate the venue to Ch Mohammad Hafeez, Olympian and former Asian champion, while the national championship trophy will be named as Shah Rukh Trophy,” he added.
He said that the 59th National Cycling Championship will be hosted by Army but with a one month delay due to dengue. “The event was postponed on the request of the cyclists who are unable to train in the morning and evening due to the dengue epidemic and Col Tahir will be looking after its organiaation,” he maintained. Giving a brief detail of 15 point agenda, he said that KPK will be holding three events in December including the Pindi to Murree, Abbottabad to Nathiagali and 1st Inter-provincial Women Cycling Championship.
He further stated that the new federation had directed the provincial units to hold a minimum of four local events like the tour of the Canal, Old City Tour etc and two national events.