By Khurram Shehzad
Pakistan’s steady decline in international sports is often attributed to a lack of funding, political instability, or weak talent development systems. While these factors are significant, an equally critical issue receives far less attention: the increasing control of civilian sports federations by armed forces officials. Although the military has historically played a positive role in Pakistan’s sports ecosystem through infrastructure, teams, and institutional support, its growing dominance in federation governance raises serious concerns about transparency, expertise, and long-term performance.
Over the past two decades, several national sports federations have been headed by retired and at times serving military officers, frequently through interim arrangements rather than democratic elections. These appointments are commonly justified in the name of “discipline,” “stability,” and “administrative efficiency.” Critics, however, argue that command-style governance is fundamentally incompatible with modern sports administration, which demands technical expertise, athlete welfare systems, and long-term development planning rather than centralized authority.
The Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) presents one of the clearest examples of this decline. Once the pride of the nation, with multiple Olympic gold medals and World Cup titles, Pakistan hockey has deteriorated sharply during periods dominated by military-backed leadership. Despite repeated claims of reform, the national team has failed to qualify for several World Cups and Olympic Games, suffered unprecedented defeats against lower-ranked teams, and witnessed the collapse of its domestic structure. Former players consistently complain that decision-making is concentrated in the hands of administrators with limited understanding of modern hockey, while junior development, coaching education, and player welfare remain neglected.
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Football offers an even starker illustration. The Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) has faced repeated FIFA suspensions due to governance failures, power struggles, and non-compliance with international statutes. At various points, administrative control rested with committees influenced or led by non-elected officials, including individuals from disciplined services backgrounds. The outcome has been instability rather than reform: domestic leagues suspended, youth programs disrupted, and players left without contracts or competitive pathways. Despite evident grassroots potential, Pakistan’s FIFA ranking has stagnated, and the national team continues to trail regional rivals.
Similar patterns emerge in other federations. In athletics, Pakistan’s Olympic ambitions remain limited despite an abundance of raw talent. Administrations shaped by bureaucratic or military-style leadership have focused on short-term camps and foreign tours instead of investing in coaching systems, sports science, or school-level competitions. Selection controversies and inconsistent policies have driven many promising athletes away from elite competition. Pakistan’s failure to win an Olympic medal since 1992 reflects not only athletic shortcomings but also deep-rooted administrative failures.
The Pakistan Squash Federation, once overseeing a sport Pakistan dominated globally for decades, has also struggled to adapt under centralized control. While the armed forces continue to produce disciplined players, the national federation has failed to rebuild a competitive professional pipeline. Weak international exposure, limited sponsorship attraction, and poor transition planning for junior players have allowed countries such as Egypt to take over a sport Pakistan once ruled.
Critics point to a fundamental lack of domain expertise at the top. Many military officers appointed to federations possess strong administrative credentials but little background in the sports they govern. Coaches and athletes describe an environment where questioning decisions is discouraged and innovation is treated as indiscipline. As one former Olympian observed, “Sports cannot be run like a regiment. Athletes need trust, scientific training, and freedom to perform not fear of authority.”
Financial transparency is another persistent concern. Despite receiving government grants through the Pakistan Sports Board, sponsorship funding, and assistance from international federations, many sports bodies fail to publish regular audited accounts. Procurement processes remain opaque, and decisions regarding foreign tours, training camps, and appointments are rarely explained publicly. Journalists and stakeholders seeking accountability are often labelled disruptive, reinforcing a culture where scrutiny is resisted rather than encouraged.
The debate is not about excluding the armed forces from sports. Their role in producing athletes, maintaining facilities, and promoting physical fitness is invaluable. The problem lies in blurred boundaries. When military officials dominate civilian sports governance without elections, athlete representation, or independent oversight, federations lose credibility. International best practices emphasise autonomy, democratic governance, and professional management principles Pakistan’s sports institutions struggle to uphold.
Reform advocates argue that revival depends on restoring civilian control and democratic processes within federations. Regular elections, inclusion of former athletes in decision-making, transparent financial reporting, and a clear separation between institutional support and administrative authority are essential. Discipline alone does not create champions; modern sporting success is built on expertise, planning, accountability, and trust.
Until Pakistan addresses this structural imbalance in sports governance, changes in coaches, players, or funding will provide only temporary relief. The decline is not merely athletic it is administrative. And unless federations are returned to professionals who understand sport rather than power, Pakistan will continue to fall behind, not for lack of talent, but for lack of vision.
