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The ongoing dispute between the government backed Pakistan Sports Board and the Pakistan Olympic Association, which is recognised by the IOC, has taken a serious turn after two swimmers were stopped from going to Indonesia for the Islamic Solidarity Games.
Sikander Khan and Ghulam Muhammad were stopped from boarding the flight at Lahore airport on Saturday night by Federal Investigation Agency officials, who claimed they didn't have the required NOCs from the PSB to go abroad for an international sports event.
"We got instructions from the PSB, which represents the government, not to allow the swimmers to go abroad because of the NOC issues," one FIA official said.
The two swimmers were selected by the Pakistan Olympic Association headed by Lt General (retd) Arif Hasan.
The International Olympic Committee has flatly refused to recognise the body headed by another former military man, Akram Sahi, who is supported by the state owned PSB.
Efforts by Sahi and PSB to select and send a contingent to Indonesia for the Islamic Solidarity Games also didn't work out as the organisers informed them that they couldn't be allowed as they were not recognised by the IOC.
The refusal apparently angered the PSB and it threatened to take Arif Hasan to court and also said it had asked the government to lodge a complaint against him with the Army chief.
