Hockey Olympians allege irregularities

ISLAMABAD: Massive irregularities were allegedly found in six to eight districts of Punjab province during the ongoing inter-regional elections of the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) with some former Olympians complaining of forced polling rather than adopting democratic procedures.Sheikhupura, Sahiwal, Khanewal, Rawalpindi and Islamabad are some of the regions where controversies erupted on the election day.

Former Olympian and national coach Anjum Saeed has staged a protest against the opponents for the forced conduct of the elections in Sheikhupura after the nominated election commissioner refused to conduct elections following complaints and counter complaints by numerous genuine clubs of the city.

However, the election commissioner was forced to return from the motorway to what Anjum Saeed called to conduct secret election.“All the officials of clubs were asked to go back home and wait for the next election day, however secret polling was held in the absence of majority of the genuine clubs.”

The same complaints were lodged by Danish Kaleem in Sahiwal where he requested chief election commissioner Punjab to intervene into the matter.“No prior intimation was given to the clubs for the city elections conducted on May 4. The elections were held without intimation to majority of the clubs in city.”

Such complaints were also lodged against interference of the PHF officials during the process of Rawalpindi and Islamabad elections.Islamabad’s elections which were supposed to be held on Wednesday were postponed three times on the same day.

“Even some of the leading and prominent clubs were denied voting rights. One of the leading PHF officials played his role in putting off elections three times in a day.“Majority of elections held in Punjab should be declared null and void as no proper system was evolved to conduct free and fare elections. Apart from Faisalabad and Lahore, elections at all other stations have no authenticity,” the Olympian opined.