PHF Overhaul Begins; Rs1.5bn Audit Objections Still Under Scrutiny

Islamabad by (Muhammad Zahid Khan) Member of the National Assembly and Standing Committee on Inter-Provincial Coordination (Sports) member Syeda Shehla Raza has welcomed Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s decision to remove Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) President Tariq Masoori Bugti and Secretary General Olympian Rana Mujahid Ali, but asserted that accountability of those allegedly involved in embezzling federation funds is still awaited.

Addressing a crowded press conference alongside former Olympians Kaleemullah, Samiullah, Iftikhar Syed, Hanif Khan, Nasir Ali, Ayaz Mahmood and Wasim Feroz, former PHF Secretary General Haider Hussain, international hockey player Muhammad Naeem and officials of the Karachi Hockey Association, Shehla Raza said the voices of players and stakeholders had finally reached the highest corridors of power.

“We thank the prime minister on behalf of all those who love and care about the national game, both in Pakistan and abroad. For the past two years, we have consistently raised our voice against corruption, nepotism and unconstitutional measures within the federation. The concerns highlighted after the national team’s treatment in Australia ultimately compelled action at the highest level,” she said.
However, she maintained that the matter does not end with the removal of the PHF office-bearers.

Mohsin Naqvi meets national hockey team delegation today

Calling for a comprehensive and transparent investigation into the federation’s affairs from 2008 to 2022, including the tenure of Tariq Bugti, Shehla Raza demanded scrutiny of 113 audit objections and alleged financial irregularities amounting to more than Rs1.5 billion. She called for legal proceedings against all individuals found responsible, including former presidents Olympian Akhtar Rasool, Brig (retd) Khalid Sajjad Khokhar and Tariq Bugti, as well as former secretaries Olympian Rana Mujahid Ali, Shahbaz Senior and Asif Bajwa. She further demanded that their names be placed on the Exit Control List (ECL) until the completion of inquiries.

She stated that the case of former PHF Secretary General Haider Hussain remains sub judice and that the court had permitted Rana Mujahid Ali only to perform day-to-day administrative functions. Despite this, she alleged, he assumed full powers as secretary general through an electoral process contrary to PHF rules.

The MNA also criticised the role of the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) and the Pakistan Olympic Association (POA), holding their leadership partly responsible for the decline of hockey. Referring to the Rs250 million federal grant allocated for the World Pro Hockey League, she said the Standing Committee had decided the funds would be utilised through the PSB to ensure transparency. However, she alleged that the board failed to manage the process in a transparent manner. She further claimed that individuals allegedly involved in corruption were recognised as federation representatives in what she described as an engineered electoral process.

Rejecting PHF’s claim of registering 16,000 players through club registration, she termed the figure baseless and asserted that even identifying 1,600 active hockey players nationwide would be difficult upon verification.

Olympian Samiullah said the removal of Tariq Bugti and Rana Mujahid Ali was in the best interest of hockey. “If a merit-based working committee is formed, we will fully cooperate for the revival of the national game. We are not seeking positions; our only objective is the restoration of hockey,” he stated.
Former captain Olympian Hanif Khan questioned why individuals allegedly involved in misappropriating hockey funds should not face imprisonment if corrupt politicians can be jailed under the law.

Olympian Nasir Ali alleged that International Hockey Federation (FIH) President Tayyab Ikram had also contributed to the decline of Pakistan hockey. He claimed that Ikram owns an entity named Muslim Food and compels teams, including those from Pakistan and other Islamic countries, to use its services while arranging accommodation in selected hotels. He alleged that Ikram was misusing his position and acting as a commission agent.

Former PHF Secretary General Haider Hussain alleged that the federation had been involved in human smuggling over the past two years. He urged the prime minister to order a thorough investigation into all individuals who travelled abroad with national teams during this period, claiming that serious revelations could emerge. He also questioned why women were accompanying the men’s team on foreign tours given the federation’s financial constraints.

PSB Begins Nationwide Scrutiny of Hockey Clubs

International hockey player Muhammad Naeem said the treatment of the national team in Australia reflected corruption and incompetence. He added that the coverage of these incidents by Indian media was a source of embarrassment and claimed that due to prolonged mismanagement by a “captive group,” there are not even 100 genuine hockey clubs operating across the country.

Concluding the press conference, Shehla Raza said she is not a candidate for any office but has concrete proposals to steer the federation in the right direction. She urged the prime minister to meet stakeholders and constitute a merit-based working committee to manage day-to-day affairs, emphasising that several Olympians and professionals stand ready to contribute to the revival of Pakistan’s national game.