KARACHI: The interim committee on Pakistan Weightlifting Federation has requested Pakistan Olympic Association to remove former President PWLF Hafiz Imran Butt from the posts of Representative of Olympic Sports in POA, Finance Committee, and Chief Coordinator of suspended PWLF.
In a letter to the President/Secretary POA and Pakistan Sports Board, Chairman Interim Committee Zahid Iqbal stated that the Court of Arbitration on Sports has recently imposed a life ban Hafiz Imran Butt while Independent Members Federation Sanctioning Panel (IMFSP) of the International Weightlifting Federation had also imposed one year suspension on PWLF (from 20 June 2025 to 19 June 2026) pursuant to Article 12.3.2 of the IWF ADR, which can be further extended in the wake of the verdict by CAS.
“On the other hand, PSB had already suspended this PWLF on 6 July 2022 and reiterated its decision through a public disclaimer (vide letter no. F.7-40/2020-PSB (NF) dated 30 Jul 2025). PSB also banned Hafiz Imran and his son for 4 years due to ADRV (vide letter no. F.7-40/2020-PSB (NF) dated 3 Nov 2025).
“But it is dismaying to highlight that the suspended PWLF (created by Hafiz Imran, after premature elections on 1st Feb 2025, with his nephew Jabran as the President) is continuously sponsoring and patronizing systemic doping in Pakistan weightlifting.
The officials, coaches and players banned by CAS/IWF, PSB and ADOP are still managing affairs of weightlifting and organizing its events with impunity,” stated Chairman Interim Committee.
He added that POA’s portal shows that Hafiz Imran Butt is still an office bearer of POA (as elected Representative of Olympic Sports and member of its Finance Committee) despite the fact that a person banned or suspended on account of ADRV cannot be member or participate in any sporting activity, in any capacity, organized or authorized by any signatory or member federation or affiliated organization or club, as envisaged in the policy of International Olympic Committee and ADR of IWF and WADA.
“We request you to remove former President PWLF Hafiz Imran Butt from the above mentioned posts at POA and notifications to these effects should be published immediately as this will help POA discharge its obligation and ensure compliance of IOC Charter, ADRs of WADA, IWF and ADOP,” concluded Chairman Interim Committee.
