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| October 14, 2005 | Friday | Ramzan 9, 1426 |
Ex-PBF official urges probe into boxers visa refusal
KARACHI, Oct 13: A former Pakistan Boxing Federation (PBF) official on Thursday accused top officials of deliberately leaving the World Cadet Championship squad in Karachi on the pretext of visa refusal, appealing to the authorities to probe into the episode.
Ali Akbar Shah, a former joint secretary of the PBF, says he is not ready to accept lame excuse of visa refusal to three boxers by the United Kingdom Deputy High Commission in Karachi.
“The fact is that well before the UK officials denied the three boxers visa, PBF had already indicated it will not send the team, raising a hue and cry over what they said lack of funds. They are doing this for the past 20 years.
“There must be some accountability. It is time that federal sports ministry, Pakistan Olympic Association and Pakistan Sports Board should investigate such lame excuses and indifferent attitude of the PBF officials,” said Akbar.
Three Liverpool-bound pugilists — Mohammad Hussain, Qadir Khan, and Riaz — were denied visas by UK Deputy High Commission because of lack of supporting documents.
However, team manager Abid Hussain, who was granted visa, was accommodated by PBF as member of International Boxing Association (AIBA) Business Commission, left for the English city along with chairman PBF Anwar Chowdhry and secretary Shakeel Durrani.
PBF decided against sending fourth boxer Sajjad Khan and team coach Zaigham Maseel, although they were granted visas.
“There must be something lacking in documents or the remaining three boxers would have definitely been granted visas. Isn’t it amazing the same UK Deputy High Commission issued visas to all the Pakistani boxers who took part in August’s Commonwealth Games?
“Had PBF officials been sincere with the sport they would have taken Sajjad and Zaigham to Liverpool where they could have lodged an official protest. This is drama staged by officials which deprived Sajjad of an opportunity of getting exposure.”
“Shakeel is member of AIBA executive committee but he should not have gone in protest. As for Abid, how can he be a member of AIBA Business Commission when AIBA elections were held on Oct 30 2002, while he was elected vice-president Punjab Boxing Association in 2005.
“Maj Abdul Rasheed and Shah Naeem Zafar from Pakistan are members of Technical Rules Commission and Press and Publication Commission but both are unaware of any meetings in Liverpool. Then how come Abid became member of an AIBA commission all of a sudden and went to Liverpool, while Rasheed and Naeem are in Karachi,” Akbar challenged.
Lashing out at PBF hierarchy, the former official said they had been creating a furore over lack of funds despite being provided millions of rupees by the government.
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