July 8, 2003	Tuesday	Jumadi-ul-Awwal 7,1424

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KARACHI, July 7: Former hockey manager Shahnaz Sheikh will appear before an inquiry committee on July 10 at Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) headquarters — Lahore.

The former Olympian said he had been asked by the PHF to appear before its committee which had been constituted to probe into the disciplinary cases against two national players.

Full-back Sohail Abbas and left-half Waseem Ahmad face an investigation and a possible disciplinary action. They went to play in professional in Germany despite being refused permission.

Shahnaz was dragged into the controversy when Wapda alleged that it was on his instigation that their two players went to play abroad. Shahnaz has categorically denied the charges.

Shahnaz, who quit because of controversy, has not only decided to serve a legal notice on Wapda asking it to prove the charges, but also threatens to take the organization to the court if it fails to substantiate the allegations.

“Although I have tendered my resignation, I am ready for an inquiry by the PHF to clarify my position and prove my innocence,” Shahnaz said on Monday from Islamabad.

PHF first announced that its disciplinary committee would decide the case when the incident was first reported in the media, but later changes its stance and asked Wapda to probe into the matter.

The sport’s governing body again reversed its decision after Shahnaz said he would not be appearing before an inquiry to be held by Wapda. PHF now has opted to investigate and settle the issue by holding an inquiry through its own committee.

Initially, PHF had announced that Brig Khalid Khokhar would head the disciplinary committee. However, PHF has been forced to appoint Pervaiz Mir of Pakistan Air Force as the chairman of the committee after Brig Khalid refused to take the assignment.