In a major development, the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) has imposed a lifetime ban on Pakistan Boxing Federation (PBF) President Khalid Mehmood and Secretary Col (retd) Nasir Ijaz Tung. This decision comes after three Pakistani boxers went missing during foreign tours over the past two years.
The incidents that led to this ban include the disappearance of two boxers, Suleman Baloch and Nazeerullah Khan, who went missing in Birmingham in 2022 just days after the conclusion of the Commonwealth Games. Earlier this year, Asian bronze medallist Zohaib Rasheed also went missing in Italy during the World Qualifying round for the Paris Olympics boxing.
These disappearances prompted the PSB to launch an inquiry into the role of PBF officials in the negligence and mismanagement of the boxers. Following the investigation, a committee constituted by the Ministry of Inter-Provincial Coordination (IPC) recommended lifetime bans on the federation’s top officials. The committee also instructed the PSB to refer the case to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA).
Accepting the committee’s recommendation, the PSB Board of Governors (BoG) imposed the lifetime bans on Mehmood and Ijaz, preventing them from holding any future positions in national sports federations. This decision marks a significant step towards accountability in Pakistani sports administration.
In addition to his role as PBF President, Khalid Mehmood also serves as the Secretary of the Pakistan Olympic Association (POA), indicating the broad impact of this decision.
Speaking to Geo News, Nasir Tung rejected the BoG’s decision as “illegal” and announced plans to challenge the lifetime ban in court. The legal proceedings that follow will determine the final outcome of this high-profile case.
