The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has declared the Pakistan Badminton Federation elections held on October 24, 2025, as illegal. In a significant ruling for the country's sporting governance, the court ordered that the entire electoral process be conducted again to ensure transparency and adherence to official regulations.
Justice at the IHC directed the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB)—the government body that regulates sports—to notify an election commission and hold fresh polls. These elections must follow Rule 17 of the PSB constitution, covering the entire process from the announcement of the schedule to the final results within a 90-day period.
Formation of an ad hoc committee
To ensure that the sport does not suffer during this transition, the court ordered the immediate establishment of an ad hoc committee. This temporary body will be headed by the Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Inter-Provincial Coordination (IPC). The committee is tasked with managing the day-to-day administrative affairs of the federation until a newly elected body takes charge.
The court specified that the committee must include the Director of National Sports Federations and representatives from the PSB. To maintain a connection with the sport's technical side, the bench also mandated the inclusion of one former badminton champion each from Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh, and Balochistan.
Legal requirements for new polls
The ruling emphasizes that the previous Pakistan Badminton Federation elections did not meet the necessary legal standards. By invoking Rule 17, the court aims to bring the federation’s leadership in line with the established framework of the national sports policy. The 90-day deadline puts pressure on the IPC ministry and the PSB to quickly organize a fair voting process.
This decision follows various disputes regarding the legitimacy of the previous leadership and the manner in which the October polls were conducted. The involvement of former athletes from across the country in the interim setup is seen as a move to balance administrative oversight with sporting expertise.
Aasan alfaaz mein
Islamabad High Court ne Badminton Federation ke puranay elections ko ghalat qarar de diya hai. Ab 90 din ke andar naye elections honge. Jab tak naye log muntakhib nahi hotay, aik temporary committee federation ke kaam chalaye gi jis mein sabiq players bhi shamil honge.
