PM gives go-ahead to change PHF chief

ISLAMABAD: The care-taker prime minister has approved the nomination of the new president Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) and has directed the concerned ministry to form a fresh panel of candidates suitable for the job.

The prime minister of Pakistan, who is the Patron in Chief of the PHF, has power to make adjustments at the helm of PHF affairs. The notification issued late Friday evening by the Ministry of Inter-Provincial Coordination (IPC) has confirmed that the PM has approved the appointment of the new president in place of Brig Khalid Khokhar as the President PHF. “The PM has seen and is pleased to desire that a panel of suitable candidates for the position of President PHF shall be proposed by the Ministry. Further necessary action shall be taken accordingly,” the notification No 3473/SPM/2023 issued by the IPC Ministry says.

The News has learned that within a week time, a panel of potential candidates will be finalized following which the matter will be referred through a summary to the PM for the final name’s approval.

“We would look into the potential candidates for the position of PHF President in a few days’ time following which a fresh summary will be sent to the Prime Minister for final approval. It will be up to the PM to pick the best/suitable candidate for the post of the President PHF,” one of the officials when contacted said.

It is believed that the nomination will be subject to a vote of confidence from the PHF General Council. The new appointee then will have to seek a vote of confidence from the General Council.

The sitting president Brig Khokhar is at the helm of affairs since 2015 when he replaced Akhtar Rasool during former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s tenure as President of PHF. All these years PHF President changed four secretaries including Rana Mujahid, Shahbaz Ahmad Senior, Asif Bajwa, and Haider Hussain. The PHF General Council on October 25 elected new secretary PHF Rana Mujahid who gained 65 votes out of 92 House.