ISLAMABAD: The tensions between the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) and the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) took a serious turn on Monday when the PSB sent a hard-hitting explanation letter to PHF President Tariq Bugti on no fewer than seven critical counts.
The communication gives Bugti a seven-day deadline to submit a full and satisfactory response, failing which, the PSB has warned, formal proceedings will be set in motion and the matter will be escalated to the Patron-in-Chief (the Prime Minister) for decisive action.
Highly placed sources within the PSB shared with The News the letter. Among the most pressing queries is the unresolved matter of the Sindh Bank account, details of which, despite repeated requests, have yet to be provided by the PHF leadership.
The seven-point letter covers a range of governance and financial transparency issues, signaling that the PSB is now prepared to confront what it views as systemic non-compliance within the PHF. Officials privy to the correspondence describe its tone as “firm, uncompromising, and leaving no room for evasive answers.”
This latest move comes against the backdrop of Pakistan hockey’s ongoing struggle to regain its lost international stature. The PSB’s action suggests that the coming week could prove crucial for the future of the national game’s governing body.
“A formal inquiry was conducted by PSB on the mentioned account and the inquiry report was shared with you on 30th January 2025, recommending necessary action. However, no action has been taken by PHF, nor has PSB been informed of any developments despite a lapse of over six months,” says the letter.
The PSB has asked the PHF chief to “(a) justify the continued failure to conduct elections of PHF, despite the clear mandate entrusted to you upon your nomination as President, PHF; (b) explain your inaction on the inquiry report concerning the unauthorized bank account; (c) provide reasons for non-submission of bank statements of all bank accounts of PHF; (d) disclose tour expenditures of all office bearers of PHF during the last one year and source of funding; (e) clarify the establishment of PHF’s unauthorized office in Islamabad and the associated financial burden; (f) provide full disclosure of all income of PHF including the rental income and its utilization; (g) justify the unauthorized perks and administrative expenditures drawn by PHF office bearers.”
The letter further says: to the President PHF: “You were nominated by the Prime Minister of Pakistan/Patron-in-Chief of PHF, to serve as President of PHF on an ad-hoc basis, specifically to facilitate the conduct of free and fair elections under Rule 17 of the Constitution of the Pakistan Sports Board, as notified by the Ministry of Inter-Provincial Coordination (IPC) vide Notification dated 21st December 2023. Upon the acceptance of resignation by Brig. (R) Khalid Sajjad Khokhar, your appointment was reaffirmed by Notification dated 1st February 2024, which modified the earlier notification only to the extent of change of President. The fundamental mandate of holding PHF elections remained unchanged. However, despite the passage of over one and a half years, no progress whatsoever has been made by you in this regard. This constitutes a breach of the terms of your appointment and of the trust reposed in you by the Patron-in-Chief of PHF.”
The letter also revealed that nearly Rs120 million had been released to the PHF since Bugti became its president. “A total of Rs119.667 million has been released to PHF by the Ministry of IPC and PSB, along with additional logistical support and international air tickets for the FIH Nations Cup 2025 (Malaysia). Despite this substantial assistance, you failed to submit the required certified bank statements of operational accounts.”
The letter says that the only audit statement submitted contradicts PHF’s own claims regarding financial liabilities and fails to establish transparency. “Funds have been utilized for inadmissible and administrative expenditures, while players continue to demand unpaid daily allowances, as highlighted in PSB’s letter dated 24th June 2025.
“Upon perusal of PHF’s internal financial rules, it has come to light that office bearers are being granted undue perks and benefits not in line with public sector funding norms.” The President was also reminded that PHF is earning income through the rental and commercial use of national assets, particularly the Abdul Sattar Edhi Hockey Stadium, Karachi. “No records have been disclosed indicating where these funds are being utilized, and whether they are being reinvested in the development of the sport or otherwise. It is reiterated that National Sports Federations, including PHF, are not personal fiefdoms of any individual or group. They are public bodies entrusted with the promotion of sport in Pakistan and represent the country internationally. All funds received, whether from government allocations or corporate sponsorships, constitute public money and must be treated with full transparency and accountability. Corporate sponsorships are not provided based on personal affiliations, but rather to support the sport and its athletes. Therefore, full disclosure of such funding is essential to ensure accountability.” All efforts to contact Tariq Bugti to seek his reply went fruitless.