<p>Karachi: Pakistan’s second longest serving sports official, Lt General (retd) Arif Hasan has stepped down as the president of the Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) after 19 years due to health problems.</p>.<p>Hasan had succeeded Syed Wajid Ali Shah as the president of the Olympic body in 2004 after the latter remained in power for 26 years.</p>.<p>Hasan was in his fourth term as president of the powerful POA but has now sent a letter to the executive council members submitting his resignation from January 1, 2024.</p>.<p>“Yes, I have sent my resignation as I am in the USA for medical treatment and other family matters for which I now need to spare time,” Hasan confirmed on telephone.</p>.Major blow to Imran Khan as Pak’s top poll body rejects his nomination papers from two seats.<p>Hasan remained an influential but polarizing figure in Pakistan sports despite attempts by the state-run Pakistan Sports Board and government officials to oust him in the last few years.</p>.<p>He even overcame an internal coup in the POA engineered by the PSB and managed to sideline a parallel group headed by another strong retired military official.</p>.<p>Critics have generally dubbed Hasan’s tenure as a period when Pakistan sports didn't move forward like in other Asian countries as the athletes didn’t show any progress in Asian or World events. </p>
<p>Karachi: Pakistan’s second longest serving sports official, Lt General (retd) Arif Hasan has stepped down as the president of the Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) after 19 years due to health problems.</p>.<p>Hasan had succeeded Syed Wajid Ali Shah as the president of the Olympic body in 2004 after the latter remained in power for 26 years.</p>.<p>Hasan was in his fourth term as president of the powerful POA but has now sent a letter to the executive council members submitting his resignation from January 1, 2024.</p>.<p>“Yes, I have sent my resignation as I am in the USA for medical treatment and other family matters for which I now need to spare time,” Hasan confirmed on telephone.</p>.Major blow to Imran Khan as Pak’s top poll body rejects his nomination papers from two seats.<p>Hasan remained an influential but polarizing figure in Pakistan sports despite attempts by the state-run Pakistan Sports Board and government officials to oust him in the last few years.</p>.<p>He even overcame an internal coup in the POA engineered by the PSB and managed to sideline a parallel group headed by another strong retired military official.</p>.<p>Critics have generally dubbed Hasan’s tenure as a period when Pakistan sports didn't move forward like in other Asian countries as the athletes didn’t show any progress in Asian or World events. </p>