According to the official statement, Salman Butt has been permanently barred from participating in any athletics-related activity — whether as an athlete, coach, official, or administrator — at both national and international levels. Similarly, Habib Shah has been suspended for ten years, prohibiting him from any role or participation in athletics during that period
Saifullah Ansar/DNA
ISLAMABAD, OCT 12 — The Executive Committee of the Athletics Federation of Pakistan (AFP) has imposed a lifetime ban on former official Salman Butt and a 10-year ban on Habib Shah, former Secretary of the Punjab Athletics Association, for gross violations of the federation’s constitution and disciplinary code.
The Executive Committee meeting, held on October 10, 2025, was chaired by Brigadier (Retd.) Wajahat Hussain, President of the Athletics Federation of Pakistan. The session reviewed key administrative and disciplinary matters aimed at ensuring full compliance with the AFP Constitution, promoting transparency, and strengthening organizational discipline.
According to the official statement, Salman Butt has been permanently barred from participating in any athletics-related activity — whether as an athlete, coach, official, or administrator — at both national and international levels. Similarly, Habib Shah has been suspended for ten years, prohibiting him from any role or participation in athletics during that period.
The Executive Committee also declared the Punjab Athletics Association’s elections held on August 31, 2025, as illegal, unconstitutional, and void, citing serious procedural violations. The elections were announced only two days in advance, on August 29, contrary to the AFP Constitution, which mandates at least 21 days’ notice before an electoral meeting and requires candidate nominations to be submitted seven days prior to the election date.
The Committee noted that even the Senior Vice President of the Punjab Athletics Association was unaware of the elections until August 30, underscoring the lack of transparency and coordination. Salman Butt — one of the signatories of the AFP Constitution himself — was found guilty of serious misconduct and administrative negligence for overseeing these unconstitutional proceedings.
To ensure fair and transparent elections in accordance with the federation’s constitution, the AFP has formed an interim administrative committee headed by Ms. Shahida Khanam, Senior Vice President of AFP. The committee will manage the day-to-day affairs of the Punjab Athletics Association and organize new elections within the prescribed constitutional framework.
President Brig. (R) Wajahat Hussain and the Executive Committee reaffirmed that all operations of the Athletics Federation will strictly adhere to constitutional principles. “No violations or self-styled actions will be tolerated. The federation stands committed to unity, integrity, discipline, and the promotion of athletics in Pakistan,” the statement concluded.
