LAHORE: The Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) Congress has given go-ahead to its president Qasim Zia to file a defamation case against 13 former Olympians for levelling allegations of human-trafficking against the federation.
“We will welcome any kind of criticism from the Olympians and other senior players about the performance of the federation and the national team, but no one will be allowed to level human-trafficking allegations against the federation,” secretary Asif Bajwa, while addressing the Congress, said.
Later, Bajwa took the consent of the members by show of hands in favour of moving the court against the Olympians.
Over 13 former Olympians, including Shahnaz Sheikh, Islahuddin Siddiqi, Saleem Sherwani, Samiullah, Shahbaz Ahmed Senior, Saleem Nazim, Qamar Ibrahim, Qamar Zia, Saeed Khan, Mohammad Ayaz, Naveed Alam in a joint strong-worded letter to the prime minister had suggested to dissolve the current PHF after Pakistan team’s poor show at the Champions Trophy in Auckland, New Zealand.
The Olympians had alleged: “The present PHF is also involved in human smuggling as an inquiry was conducted by sports committees of Senate/NA and expressed concerns over the issue.”
“We will soon be starting legal proceedings against those Olympians without taking into consideration their status,” Bajwa said at a press conference along with PHF president Qasim Zia.
Dawn has published the letter of the Olympians.
Meanwhile, various Congress members hailed the performance of the PHF office-bearers.
While some demanded support from the PHF, others wanted permission for holding tournaments in their region.
One blunt Congress member, Rana Liaquat from Attock, hit hard at the PHF, alleging that the federation was just obliging their blue-eyed Olympians by giving them coaching stunts at the academies.
“The PHF is paying them salaries to oblige them though they are getting handsome salaries from their respective departments,” he said.
He suggested the PHF to give financial support to districts instead of giving funds to the academies.
Meanwhile, the PHF secretary said the federation had amended its constitution under which up to five-year ban could be imposed on the players who would take part in any tournament not recognised by the international body of the game.
“The amendment will equally be applicable at the domestic level and any activity which will be organised without getting prior permission from the PHF will be dealt in accordance with the amended clause of article 5.4,” the PHF secretary said.
“After these amendments, the PHF will be in a position to restrict the participation of players in non-sanctioned tournaments of the FIH and will also ensure that illegal hockey tournaments do not take place in Pakistan,” he asserted.
He said the Congress had also approved a budget of Rs480 million for the year 2012. He added the deficit of the budget was Rs220 million.
Meanwhile, PHF president Qasim Zia assured the Congress that he would generate necessary funds to meet the shortfall.
“I have taken my best efforts to make the PHF financially viable during the past three years by generating adequate funds to meet the ever-growing needs of the hockey federation,” he added.
The House also offered “fateha” for the departed soul of former PHF president Air Marshal Nur Khan and paid glowing tributes to his services.
The PHF president also announced that Nur Khan Trophy along with the cash prize of Rs100,000 would every year be awarded to the best player of the year.
Likewise, he added that a similar trophy would also be introduced after the name of former PHF secretary Brig (retd) Manzoor Hussain Atif which will be awarded to the best junior player along with cash prize of Rs50,000 every year.
The house also formed disciplinary, finance and competition committees for smooth functioning of the PHF.
Seventy-eight members of the Congress out of total 93 attended the meeting.
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