POA still waiting for PHF reply on ex-Olympians complaint

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) have sought Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) explanation on alleged illegal functioning of the federation office- bearers as pointed out through a letter by renowned former Olympians.

Olympian Salim Nazim, Khawaja Junaid and Khalid Bashir recently lodged a complaint with International Olympic Committee (IOC) and International Hockey Federation (FIH) regarding delay in elections and federation’s malpractices. These players also questioned the legality of current PHF officials, saying that federation elections were must within the four years of previous elections “I am attaching a copy of complaint received from three Olympians and one former hockey player containing allegations against the sitting office-bearers of PHF particularly about delaying elections of PHF that renders the current officials defunct as per constitution of PHF. It is resolved that before taking any action, comments of PHF may be obtained. Therefore you are requested to please furnish your comments/reply in this regard by April 30, 2018,” the letter written by the POA secretary Khalid Mehmood to federation said. When The News approached Khalid Mehmood as whether POA received any reply from the PHF till April 30 afternoon, his answer was negative. “We have not received anything from PHF so far. We have given them deadline after which POA would move in accordance with the PHF as well as POA constitution,” he said.

Former Olympians reminded that PHF in its constitution of September 2010 highlighting powers, responsibilities of the officials, tenure of all the officials and procedures for its day to day functions. The constitution explains the tenure of its Congress at its Article 12. As per Article 12.9.2 of the constitution of PHF, Congress elects the office-bearers for a period of four years. Article 13 of the constitution further provides the composition of Executive Board which shall be elected by the congress for a term of four years. The powers/functions of the executive board have also been explained at Article 13.6 of the PHF constitution. As per notification of Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) the elections of PHF were held on 25-11-2013 at a local hotel Islamabad which was notified on 26-11-2013

As per constitutional requirement explained above, the elections of PHF were required to be held after four years on completion of the tenure of the existing body on 26-11-2017 which they miserably failed to do the same. Thus as per constitution there exists no legal body and the present body has become defunct having no constitutional powers.

There is absolutely no check and balance on the finances of PHF, which is a serious breach of its discipline and constitution. The IOC referred the matter to POA, asking them to investigate the matter in accordance with the existing PHF and parent Olympic body constitutions.