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- Order cites constitutional violations and lack of due process.<\/b><\/li>\n
- AFP told to withdraw adverse letters sent internationally.<\/b><\/li>\n
- Ban seen as harming Arshad Nadeem\u2019s competition preparations.<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\nKARACHI: The Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) has overturned a lifetime ban imposed on prominent coach Salman Iqbal Butt, the coach of Olympic Gold Medalist Arshad Nadeem, a decision that restores his status.<\/p>\n
The ruling, issued by Senator Pervaiz Rashid in his capacity as an adjudicator for the Pakistan Sports Board, declared the ban imposed by the Athletics Federation of Pakistan \u201cwithout lawful authority, unconstitutional, ultra vires, and void ab initio,\u201d meaning it was invalid from the outset.<\/p>\n
The Athletics Federation of Pakistan (AFP) had imposed the ban on October 12 but Butt challenged it, arguing it was issued without jurisdiction, due process or legal basis. After detailed proceedings, the adjudicator sided with the coach in a final order dated November 13.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe lifetime ban has no legal effect and is declared void,\u201d the order stated. It instructed the AFP to \u201cimmediately withdraw all adverse communications\u201d sent to international bodies like World Athletics and Asian Athletics, which had damaged Butt\u2019s global standing. The federation is also now restrained from issuing any future \u201cdefamatory or prejudicial communications\u201d against Butt.<\/p>\n
In his decision, the adjudicator found multiple legal and procedural failures in the AFP\u2019s actions. The ruling stated that no formal charge sheet was ever issued to Butt, no inquiry report was provided, and he was given no meaningful right to a hearing or defense.<\/p>\n
\u201cA penalty imposed in violation of due process is void ab initio,\u201d the order read, citing violations of Articles 4, 10-A and 25 of the Constitution of Pakistan. It also noted the penalty of a lifetime ban was \u201cultra vires, excessive, and unsupported by any constitutional authority\u201d within the AFP\u2019s own rules.<\/p>\n
The case also involved a dispute over the Punjab Athletics Association elections, which the AFP had declared null and void.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The adjudicator\u2019s order ruled that the AFP had no jurisdiction over the matter, as the PAA is a provincial body whose elections are supervised by the Punjab Sports Board and Punjab Olympic Association. The elections were observed by nominated officials, and no objections were raised at the time.<\/p>\n
The ruling highlighted the ban\u2019s negative impact on Pakistan\u2019s elite athletics programme. Butt has coached Arshad Nadeem for years, including during his historic performance at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The adjudicator\u2019s order noted that the AFP\u2019s actions \u201cdisrupted Pakistan\u2019s high-performance athlete’s preparations, created uncertainty for a leading Olympic athlete, damaged national medal prospects, and risked reputational harm internationally.\u201d<\/p>\n
The record included a written endorsement from Nadeem himself supporting Butt and opposing the ban.<\/p>\n
The Pakistan Sports Board\u2019s legal advisor, Saif ur Rehman Rao, assisted during the proceedings. The AFP was represented by its president, Brigadier (R) Wajahat Hussain, and advocate Usman Akram. The adjudicator overruled the AFP\u2019s objection to the petition\u2019s maintainability, affirming his full jurisdiction under the PSB Constitution.<\/p>\n
With this order, all of Butt\u2019s professional rights, status, and privileges as a national athletics coach have been restored.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
- AFP told to withdraw adverse letters sent internationally.<\/b><\/li>\n