Islamabad (News Desk): Member of the National Assembly, Shehla Raza, has demanded that Prime Minister of Pakistan Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif impose an ad-hoc setup on hockey and appoint a neutral interim president of the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) to conduct free and transparent elections.
Shehla Raza stated that the current president of the Pakistan Hockey Federation is not an elected official but a nominated one. She alleged that Tariq Bugti was assigned the task of scrutinizing hockey clubs and conducting elections, but instead he had himself elected as president. She expressed these views while addressing a press conference at the National Press Club Islamabad, alongside renowned Pakistani Olympians including Shahnaz Sheikh, Samiullah, Kaleemullah, Hanif Khan, Nasir Ali, Wasim Feroz, Muhammad Shakeel Abbasi, Syed Haider Hussain, Naeem Akhtar Khan, Ayaz Mahmood, and office bearers of hockey federations from across the country.
Shehla Raza further said that the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) had issued a letter regarding the scrutiny of hockey clubs, in which it rejected unilateral scrutiny of clubs. She reiterated that the PHF president is not elected but nominated, and questioned the legality of Tariq Bugti contesting elections despite being a caretaker, noting that legally a caretaker cannot participate in elections. She added that the PSB letter also raised serious questions about the financial credibility of the Pakistan Hockey Federation.
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She alleged that Rana Mujahid opened a portal through which selected clubs were registered. She questioned what the PSB intends to do about the hockey federation, adding that if the PSB has abandoned hockey, then the nation might as well offer Fateha for the sport, as players are not even receiving their daily allowances.
Former Olympian Shahnaz Sheikh said that recommendations were presented to the committee formed by the Prime Minister, calling for free and transparent elections under neutral caretakers and comprehensive scrutiny of all hockey clubs in the country. He urged the Prime Minister to take notice of the destruction of the national sport and play his role in saving it.
Former Olympian Samiullah stated that Pakistan’s national sport has been in decline for the past 20 years. He said that when a team is ranked 18th, no institution is willing to sponsor it. He emphasized that Pakistan hockey can be improved by promoting genuine and strong clubs.
Concluding the press conference, Shehla Raza once again urged the Prime Minister to impose an ad-hoc setup on hockey and appoint a neutral interim president of the Pakistan Hockey Federation to ensure transparent elections and help restore the golden era of Pakistan hockey.
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