KARACHI, Jan 2 Nasir Karim Baloch, chairman of the Karachi City Zonal Football Association (KCZFA) Zone IV, has registered a strong reaction to the Pakistan Football Federation's (PFF) demand for an explanation from him for issuing statements regarding the FIFA Goal Project II.

The PFF had demanded an explanation from Nasir Karim about certain statements made by him to the media on Dec 27 and 28 in a letter (erroneously dated Nov 29) issued to him by Sindh Football Association (SFA) Secretary Qamar Yar Khan.

The letter followed Nasir's statement to a few newspapers including Dawn about the PFF's lack of interest in seeing the goal project in Karachi.

Nasir, who is also an Executive Committee member of the Sindh Football Association (SFA), had spoken to the press after the federation pointed out certain shortcomings in the SFA's deed of lease.

The 10-acre land in Hawkesbay that the SFA had acquired from the Government of Sindh for the project was missing an important clause.

It is a FIFA requirement to have the land subleased to the PFF as the federation happened to be the body affiliated with the FIFA in order for them to grant the funds for the construction of the project. But the land had been leased to SFA with no sublease clause in the papers.

It was said in the letter sent to Nasir Karim that SFA being affiliated with the PFF was bound to follow the code of conduct as mentioned in the federation's constitution.

“By giving the statement against the PFF and its officials you have violated the PFF code of conduct. You have shown negligence and therefore you are answerable to the SFA,” stated the letter.

“Kindly explain why you violated the PFF code of conduct ... by Jan 7, failing which, the SFA's disciplinary committee will adjudicate on this matter,” it concluded.

Nasir Karim on Friday replied by circulating a statement on the KCZFA letterhead to the media saying that the PFF president is opposed to the idea of a goal project in Karachi.

“Due to his insecurity about the political stronghold in Lyari, he had always followed the principle of 'divide and rule' here. Choosing an unsuitable person for the post of paid secretary in the SFA without bothering to take the entire executive body into confidence is also a part of the entire conspiracy,” said Nasir.

About the appointment of the SFA secretary Qamar Yar, who had been nominated by SFA President Ghulam Abbas without consulting all SFA Executive Committee members, Nasir said “The silence of some high-ranking members within the association shows their ulterior motives.”

Pointing out the last minute switch of the first PFF group 'B' match between PPWD and Police from the Peoples Sports Complex to Korangi Baloch Stadium on Sunday, Nasir, at a hurriedly called KCZFA meeting, said “The decision was taken just to deprive the people of Lyari from watching a good football match.”

Meanwhile, KCZFA Zone IV's Secretary Murad Bakhsh Baloch, while showing his complete faith in Nasir Karim's abilities as chairman said “We need to stay together to weed out the enemy forces.”

While criticizing SFA's inducting people through unlawful and unconstitutional means, he said “Those standing by the decision for the sake of their own personal gains cannot be well-wishers of the sport.”

SFA's treasurer Mohammad Anwer, Vice-chairman Abdul Rehman and member M. Yaqub too spoke in the meeting which also registered a strong protest about the delay being caused in the construction of FIFA Goal Project II at Hawkesbury and the PFF's demanding an explanation of Nasir Karim.

Meanwhile, many footballers from District South, West and Malir have announced that they would be going on hunger strike on Sunday from 10.00am outside Football House, KCZFA's office in Chakiwara, Lyari.