August 9, 2003	Saturday	Jumadi-us-Sani 10, 1424

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KARACHI, Aug 8: Former Pakistan hockey manager Shahnaz Sheikh has decided to drag Wapda into court after the department failed to reply following the legal notice he served demanding damages.

“As Wapda has not replied within the stipulated 15 days in response to the legal notice I served on it, I have decided to move court,” the former Olympian said on Friday.

Shahnaz has demanded Rs200 million in damages from Wapda after he was cleared

by a Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) inquiry committee of all charges levelled by Wapda.

Wapda had charged the then manager Shahnaz with instigating two of its players — Sohail Abbas and Waseem Ahmad — to play in professional league in Germany. Both the players had admitted they had gone to Germany despite being refused permission by PHF.

Shahnaz was the manager of the national team when the pair went abroad and he announced his retirement when he appeared before the probe committee, citing the allegations by Wapda as one of the reasons.

The former great said he would have to wait for a month to take further action against Wapda as courts would be off during the current month.

“The matter would have been settled had Wapda paid me the damages. But now I will file a suit in Lahore High Court asking for Rs200 million as compensation in the first week of September as courts will be closed in August,” he said.

Shahnaz, a versatile player of yesteryear, said he had been compelled to call it a day owing to what he said disturbing allegations which had maligned his reputation which he earned after playing for the country for years.

“What Wapda did to me has also disturbed my family. The decision of quitting as the manager has also deprived me from monetary gains as I, as the manager of national team, was awarded Rs200,000 after we won Azlan Shah Cup.

“I was hoping for more rewards and could have earned more as we are scheduled to play Champions Trophy, Asia Cup, Olympic qualifying round and Olympic Games. But the charges forced me to quit,” he said.