January 25, 2006	Wednesday	Zilhaj 24, 1426

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KARACHI, Jan 24: The rules and regulations were set aside when Karachi Hockey Association (KHA) elections on Monday ended with both rival groups being “elected” to run the affairs for two years each.

It was perhaps the first time in the history of Pakistani sports that two opposition parties were allowed to run affairs on two-year basis to complete the four-year official term.

After both parties headed by Gulfaraz Ahmad and Ejazuddin were still at loggerheads on the issue of voters, coordinator for conducting district association elections in Sindh, Sindh Sports Minister Qamar Mansoor, devised a unique way by offering both parties to run the affairs for two years.

At one stage Qamar even initially offered the two groups to decide the winner on the toss of a coin but eventually the matter was resolved when he offered Gulfaraz and Ejaz to be the secretary of the KHA for two years each.

Ghulam Abkar Bokhari, the election commissioner, said the elections took an ugly turn once again as Gulfaraz raised objections on a few voters from Ejaz group and even threatened to boycott the polls by staging a walkout.

“Situation was similar when we tried to hold elections on Jan 6 after which we postponed the polls because of chaos. There was exchange of hot words between both sides and even some former Olympians were involved. Basically, Gulfaraz objected over two voters from Karachi Water and Sewerage Board and a PRO of Mr Qamar.

“We did not allow those persons to vote for Ejaz after the objection but even then Ejaz had 37 votes, while Gulfaraz 34. Even then Gulfaraz tried to boycott the proceedings.

“But the minister offered both parties the solution and now Ejaz will be the secretary for first two years, while Gulfaraz will be associate secretary. After completion of his two years in office, Ejaz will become associate secretary and Gulfaraz will be secretary,” Akbar told Dawn.

The election commissioner said the minister had contacted Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) secretary Brig Musarrat Ullah Khan who had given his green signal and had no objection over the “arrangement.”

Asked to give a single example where that kind of arrangement was allowed before in Pakistan, Akbar admitted it was the first instance and that there was no rule through which two persons could be secretary during one official four-year term of any association.

“No, there is neither an example of any such proposal nor are there any rules through which we can reach this kind of agreement. But this has been done for the sake of the game in the province.”

However, Akbar said there was no reason for Gulfaraz to raise objections over the voters since both parties were made to read and signed the voters list on Jan 21.

“The fact of the matter is that a few voters for Gulfaraz were missing and that is why they lost and were agitated. In that situation what was done was the only solution.”

Interestingly, president and other office-bearers are yet to be “elected”. They will be elected later in consultation with both groups.

Gulfaraz was not available for comments.