By Hafiz Rahat Usama 
Landmark Ruling Restores Olympic Coach’s Credentials
The Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) has nullified the lifetime ban imposed on renowned athletics coach Salman Iqbal Butt, trainer of Olympic gold medalist Arshad Nadeem. Senator Pervaiz Rashid, acting as PSB adjudicator, declared the Athletics Federation of Pakistan’s (AFP) October 12 ban “without lawful authority, unconstitutional, ultra vires, and void ab initio” – legally invalid from inception. The November 13 ruling immediately restores Butt’s coaching status and professional reputation.
Due Process Violations Cited in Sweeping Legal Rebuke
The adjudicator’s detailed order revealed multiple procedural failures in AFP’s disciplinary action. No formal charge sheet was issued to Butt, nor was any inquiry report produced during proceedings. The coach was denied fundamental rights to hearing and defense, violating constitutional Articles 4, 10-A and 25. The judgment emphasized that penalties imposed without due process are inherently void, noting the lifetime ban exceeded AFP’s constitutional authority and represented disproportionate punishment.
National Athletics Program Impact and Provincial Jurisdiction Clash
The controversial ban had disrupted Pakistan’s elite athletics preparation, particularly affecting Olympic champion Arshad Nadeem’s training regimen. Nadeem submitted written support for his longtime coach during proceedings. The case also involved Punjab Athletics Association (PAA) election disputes, where the adjudicator ruled AFP overstepped its jurisdiction. Provincial sports bodies – the Punjab Sports Board and Punjab Olympic Association – hold authority over PAA elections conducted under their supervision without initial objections.
International Reputation Rehabilitated
The PSB order mandates AFP to immediately withdraw all adverse communications sent to World Athletics and Asian Athletics that damaged Butt’s global standing. The federation is permanently restrained from issuing defamatory statements against the coach. With his professional rights fully restored, Butt can resume contributions to Pakistan’s athletics program without legal impediments. The ruling concludes a contentious chapter that had threatened to undermine the country’s Olympic success trajectory.