Legislation against corruption in sports clears first obstacle

The bill to enact laws against corruption in sports has crossed its first obstacle. The bill faced no objections in the National Assembly. It has now been forwarded to the Law and Justice Standing Committee so that it can be given a legal outline.

According to the proposed plans, a convicted individual should be sent to prison for 10 years, be fined Rs. 100 Million or both. The creation of a special agency for investigation has also been proposed.

Member National Assembly Iqbal Mohammad Ali, who presented the bill, stated that the law would include all corrupt practices in cricket and other sports.

ALSO READ: Younis, Mushtaq unlikely to be part of coaching staff for Zimbabwe series

“No member objected to the bill. It has now been sent to the law and justice standing committee. It will then be presented back in the national assembly. After that, a law can be introduced. This bill will include corruption in cricket and all other sports,” said Ali.

“I have asked that the committee include a retired or serving judge along with a member of an agency such as the FIA. The law should include further investigations into other players and their families,” he added.

It should be noted that the bill has been titled as ‘Prevention of offenses on sports act 2020’. The bill also proposes a three-year prison sentence, a fine of Rs.200,000 or both for an official or employee of any department found to have been involved in corrupt practices.

An initial plan to create a criminal act against fixing was also presented by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to Prime Minister Imran Khan.