PFF normalisation committee: Ahmed Yar Lodhi removed from post of secretary

By
Faizan Lakhani
|
The logo of FIFA is seen in front of its headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland, September 26, 2017. Photo: Reuters/Arnd Wiegmann/Files
 

KARACHI: The FIFA-appointed PFF’s normalisation committee took its first major decision on Wednesday and removed long-serving PFF secretary-general Col (retd) Ahmed Yar Lodhi from his position.

The decision came following the normalisation committee’s inaugural meeting which was held in Lahore, presided by its chairman Humza Khan.

Humza, after the meeting, confirmed to Geo.tv that Lodhi has been removed and the decision was made to ensure transparency and neutrality in the handling of PFF affairs in this transition period.

“I wouldn’t call it sacking,” Humza said when asked him if Lodhi was sacked.

“He has been relieved from the role of PFF secretary and Mr. Lodhi has accepted the decision with grace and has ensured his cooperation with the Normalisation Committee,” he added.

The chairman of the normalisation committee added that the only reason to have Ahmed Yar Lodhi replaced was to ensure neutrality in PFF secretariat.

“We agreed that it won’t be fair to have anyone who carries the baggage of either side,” he expressed.

Colonel Ahmed Yar Lodhi was PFF’s longest-serving secretary-general who was appointed to the position in 2007, replacing Arshad Lodhi.

The Normalisation Committee in its meeting on Wednesday also discussed various aspects of working for its mandate given by FIFA.

Meanwhile, sources have claimed, the PFF normalisation committee is considering to appoint Colonel Mujahid Tareen as interim secretary-general of PFF.

Mujahid Tareen, a former captain of Pakistan Football team and member of current Normalisation Committee, has previously remained secretary of PFF.

However, Humza Khan – the chairman of the normalisation committee – refused to confirm the appointment of Colonel Tareen to the position.