Asian Chess Federation president Sheikh Sultan bin Khalifah Al Nahyan solved the impasse in Pakistan chess, merging two groups who have been in litigation these past three years.
Sheikh Sultan met 11th September in Al Ain, UAE with Senator Kalsoom Parveen and Amin Malik of the Pakistan Sports Board recognized group and Abdus Salim and Waqar Ahmed Madni of the FIDE recognized group. Also attending were Rahid Iqbal Khawaja and Asim Shahjehan, assistants to Senator Kalsoom Parveen.
In April 2013, Mr. Abdus Salim was elected President of the Pakistan Chess Federation, but another rival group headed by Mr. Hanif Qureshi claimed the presidency. In July 2017 elections of the Chess Federation were held under the auspices of the Pakistan Sports Board. Abdus Salim contested the election in court and obtained a favorable verdict. Since then two groups have both been going to court and Pakistan chess has stagnated for three years.
The two groups met last year in Dubai with Asian Chess Federation Deputy President Bharat Singh of India and were awaiting the final ruling of the courts but Pakistan chess was suffering from the stalemate.
At the meeting last week with Sheikh Sultan, lawyers of both groups presented court rulings and supporting documents but Sheikh Sultan, seconded by Asian Chess Federation Secretary General Hisham Al Taher, concentrated instead on finding a mutually agreeable solution.
Sheikh Sultan emphasized the advantage of unity combining the many years of experience of Abdus Salim with the government influence of Senator Kalsoom Parveen. After three hours of discussion, the parties agreed to unite under the FIDE-recognized Pakistan Chess Federation which has been a FIDE member since 1973.
Similarly the Pakistan Football Association was split into factions resulting in the suspension by FIFA of Pakistan. At the FIDE Presidential Board meeting 8 September in Budapest, Hungary, the Board authorized Sheikh Sultan to handle the situation in Pakistan chess.
Sheikh Sultan said “What they were unable to achieve in other sports, we were able to unify in chess because we are one family. Pakistan, with a population of 200 million, has great potential for chess and I am confident that with unity the Pakistan Chess Federation will be active again.”
Unity in Pakistan chess. From left are Raashid Iqbal Khawaja, Asim Shahjehan, Senator Kalsoom Parveen, Sheikh Sultan bin Khalifah Al Nahyan, Abdus Salim, Hisham Al Taher, Waqar Ahmed Madni and Amin Malik.
Asian Chess Federation president Sheikh Sultan bin Khalifah Al Nahyan (center) leads the signing of the Memorandum of Agreement. Clockwise from left are Raashid Iqbal Khawaja, Waqar Ahmed Madni, Hisham Al Taher, Senator Kalsoom Parveen, Sheikh Sultan, Abdus Salim, Casto Abundo, Amin Malik and Asim Shahjehan.
Sheikh Sultan bin Khalifah Al Nahyan (center) with Senator Kalsoom Parveen and Abdus Salim, president and chairman, respectively, of the united Pakistan Chess Federation.