The Athletics Federation of Pakistan (AFP) on Sunday imposed a lifetime ban on Salman Butt, coach of Olympic champion Arshad Nadeem, “for serious violations of the AFP Constitution”, in a bid to “uphold transparency, constitutional compliance and organizational integrity within the federation”.
The decision against Butt comes as AFP seeks reasons behind the sharp decline in performance of Arshad, who finished 10th in the men’s javelin final at the World Athletics Championships held in Tokyo last month.
In his response to AFP, Butt said Arshad was unable to perform at his usual level due to the heat and humidity in the Japanese capital, as well as a sore calf.
According to an AFP statement, a copy of which is available with dawn.comThe federation in its executive committee meeting held on October 10 under the chairmanship of AFP President Wajahat Hussain Sahi, “has taken important disciplinary and administrative decisions to uphold transparency, constitutional compliance and organizational integrity within the Federation.
“After careful review and deliberation, the Executive Committee has imposed a lifetime ban on Salman Butt, former official of the Punjab Athletics Association (PAA), for serious violations of the AFP Constitution, to which he himself is a signatory,” the press release stated.
“Thereafter, Butt is banned for life from participating in any athletic activity, whether as an athlete, coach, official or official, both domestically and internationally, within or outside Pakistan.
Similarly, Habib Shah, former secretary of the Punjab Athletics Association, has been banned for 10 years from participating in any athletics-related activity in any capacity at the national or international level, the press release said.
“The executive committee further declared that the purported Punjab Athletics Association elections held on August 31, 2025 were illegal, unconstitutional and null and void ab initio.
“These elections were announced at midnight on August 29 just two days before they were held, while the AFP Constitution clearly requires a minimum notice of 21 days before calling an electoral meeting, and a notice of seven days for the submission of nomination papers by candidates wishing to participate in the elections.
“It was also noted with concern that even the senior vice-president of the Punjab Athletics Association was unaware of the election schedule till August 30, just a day before the elections.
“This fact demonstrates once again the total lack of transparency and the violation of procedural and constitutional norms in the holding of these elections,” the press release states.
He added: “The Executive Committee described these actions as a deliberate attempt to undermine the AFP Constitution and stated that such practices will not be tolerated under any circumstances.
“To rectify the situation, the Committee has constituted a Management Committee headed by Ms. Shahida Khanum, Senior Vice President, AFP, to hold fair, transparent and constitutionally valid Punjab Athletics Association elections at the earliest.”
The committee will also take care of the association’s routine affairs until the completion of the new electoral process, according to the press release.
“The president and executive committee of the Pakistan Athletics Federation have reiterated their firm stance that all affairs of the Federation will be governed strictly in accordance with its constitution.
“No individual or group will be allowed to violate or circumvent the constitutional provisions. The AFP remains fully committed to ensuring integrity, unity and discipline for the promotion of athletics and the welfare of athletes throughout Pakistan.”
talking to dawn.com In a phone call, AFP president Wajahat Sahi said the PAA informed them about the elections on August 29 at 11:39 p.m.
“On August 30, the AFP informed the PAA that these elections will be considered illegal,” Sahi said. dawn.com.
“Until August 30, not even the first vice president of the AFP knew that the August 31 elections would be held.”
According to Sahi, Butt was no longer PAA president after August 6, which was the original scheduled date for the PAA elections.
Sahi added that Butt was supposedly contesting for the presidency once again.
sunrise.com He contacted Butt for comment but was unable to reach him.
“In the end, the investigation committee completed its investigation and recommended severe disciplinary measures against these people,” Sahi said.
“The AFP works for the nation and the country and to bring glory, as demonstrated at the Paris Olympic Games with the gold medal,” Sahi said.
“This is a decades-long effort by the AFP, particularly the then president Akram Sahi. They have achieved this laurel for a country that, unfortunately, has been wasted and ruined by some people.
“We will respect the AFP constitution and the measures taken will comply with the law,” Sahi said.
He added that Butt has the right to appeal the lifetime ban, according to the constitution.
Butt was appointed by AFP as Arshad’s coach after the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, where Arshad finished fifth in the men’s javelin final. Since then, he has coached Arshad to several accolades, including a gold at the 2022 Commonwealth Games, a silver at the 2023 World Athletics Championships and a gold at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
