POA reminds PHF once more to furnish harassment case details

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) has given Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) yet another reminder to furnish all details on harassment and assault of a women hockey player during camp training (The News broke the story in December 4 issue).

The reminder was given following earlier communiqué that asked the PHF to furnish details of inquiry (if conducted) regarding the unfortunate incident with the details of victim point of view.

“We have yet again given reminder to PHF to submit all the details of inquiry so that the further action should be taken according to the guideline given by the International Olympic Committee (IOC),” A POA official when approached said.

A women hockey player was allegedly assaulted by the team manager (Saeed Khan) at the conclusion of training camp in October. Though Saeed Khan denied allegations, the women hockey player came in public (on TV channels and print media), accusing the manager of assault on the night of October 8.

The women player also wrote to Punjab Sports Minister Jahangir Khanzada requesting for necessary action against the official. The matter now becomes even serious as IOC has stepped in asking the Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) to investigate the matter and report back to the custodian of all Olympic sports.

The IOC had adopted concrete measures first in 2006 and then in 2016 to discourage such assaults or exploitation of women folk in the field of sports.The IOC rules regarding the harassment of players, binds the concern Olympic Committee to look into the matter-grill the concern officials or the federation involved and report the matter back after investigating it thoroughly.The IOC has made it pertinent to all respective NOC’s to make sure that the player who has accused official/officials of harassment is given proper hearing.