The Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) on Wednesday issued a public disclaimer clarifying that the entity referring to itself as the Pakistan Mixed Martial Arts Federation has no affiliation with the Board and is not authorized to use the country’s name or the official PSB logo.
In the disclaimer, PSB said the Constitution of the Pakistan Sports Board (2022), duly approved by the Federal Government under the Sports (Development and Control) Ordinance, 1962, clearly states that only PSB-affiliated bodies qualify as National Sports Federations (NSFs). Under these rules, only recognized NSFs may use the name “Pakistan” and field national teams for international events.
PSB noted that it had taken notice of an individual, Mr. Babar Qayoom Raja, who is reportedly organizing the “Mixed Martial Arts National Championship NFT 4 Season 4” at SA Gardens Phase-2, Lahore, while unlawfully using the PSB logo.
The statement added that the organization styling itself as the Pakistan Mixed Martial Arts Federation “is neither affiliated with nor recognized by the Pakistan Sports Board” and is therefore misrepresenting itself as the national governing body for mixed martial arts in the country.
PSB further clarified that any communication, promotion, activity, or decision issued by Raja or his organization using the PSB logo “holds no legal validity” and must be disregarded by all federations, institutions, departments and athletes.
The Board has directed Raja to immediately stop using the PSB logo and refrain from presenting his organization as the Pakistan Mixed Martial Arts Federation.
PSB reiterated that only duly affiliated and recognized sports federations are authorized to represent Pakistan at the national and international levels.