Parliamentary Committee Grills Hockey Federation Over Financial Management and Leadership Crisis

ISLAMABAD: A sub-committee of the National Assembly on Inter-Provincial Coordination, chaired by Sheikh Aftab Ahmed, convened a tense meeting to address the deepening governance and financial crisis within the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF).

The meeting was attended by key officials, including Director General of the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) Yaser Pervez, Secretary of Inter-Provincial Coordination Mohiuddin Wani, and PHF Secretary General Haider Hussain, along with PHF President Tariq Bugti.

Central Point of Contention: Can Caretaker PM Appoint PHF President?

A major legal question dominated the proceedings: whether a caretaker Prime Minister has the authority to appoint the PHF President in his capacity as the patron-in-chief. DG PSB raised this critical point, noting that the matter is currently sub-judice.

Officials from the Ministry of Law advised that the position cannot be filled until the current one is officially vacant. They stated, “If the PHF President is currently performing his duties, a new one cannot be appointed.” They requested all relevant court documents to provide a definitive legal opinion.

Financial Scrutiny and Alleged Mismanagement

The committee expressed severe dissatisfaction with the PHF’s financial management. Secretary Mohiuddin Wani revealed startling instances of fiscal irresponsibility:

• A national hockey team was sent to Malaysia and returned without paying its bills, leaving the government to settle the dues to “protect the country’s dignity.”

• The PHF finds it difficult to secure funds for leagues and operates without providing complete plans to the government.

• A significant discrepancy was highlighted: while the PHF claims it needs crores of rupees to pay people, its audit accounts show no such payments were made.

DG PSB Yaser Pervez proposed a solution: “The PHF should submit proposals to the PSB for approval, and the PSB will disburse funds directly to players to ensure transparency.”

Clash of Constitutions and Allowances

A procedural conflict emerged between the constitutions of the PSB and the PHF regarding player payments. The PHF Secretary General argued that for matters like hiring foreign coaches, the PHF must operate under its own rules.

A stark difference in daily allowances was also revealed:

• The PSB offers $40-50 per day for major events.

• The PHF pays $100 per day to its players.

Location and Leadership Under Fire

The PHF’s operational decisions were also questioned. Secretary Wani challenged the need to run the federation from Islamabad when its official office is in Lahore, stating, “There is no Islamabad Hockey Federation; it is the national hockey federation.”

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He also directly questioned the financial acumen of the current leadership, noting, “Tariq Bugti and Rana Mujahid were good players, but the question is, are they good finance managers? Government money is public money; we cannot release it without proper scrutiny.”

The committee concluded by demanding a complete audit and a transparent plan from the PHF, warning that future funding is contingent on strict financial discipline and clear answers to the legal questions surrounding its leadership.