February 16, 2006	Thursday	Muharram 17, 1427

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KARACHI, Feb 15: Power struggle took another turn on Wednesday when a rival group claimed ongoing Inter-club championship is illegal, saying the event could not be organized since Karachi Hockey Association (KHA) elections have not been completed.

Gulfaraz Ahmad, who claimed himself as the secretary of the KHA, said the Karachi Inter-club championship had no legal or competitive value since only KHA secretary had been elected while the body did not have president and other office-bearers. All the registered clubs have been asked to stay away from the championship or face “disciplinary action”.

“When there is no president and other office-bearers, then how the secretary of the KHA can be the organising secretary. This championship is null and void and doesn’t have any value,” Gulfaraz told Dawn.

On Jan 6, KHA elections were postponed amid chaos and charges of attempted rigging levelled by Gulfaraz who had asked Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) chief Tariq Kirmani to sack secretary of the scrutiny committee Iftikhar Syed and director domestic hockey, Muhammad Shafiq for their alleged involvement in rigging the poll.

Eventually, on Jan 24 Ejazuddin and Gulfaraz, both were “elected” by the Sindh Sports Minister Qamar Mansoor as secretaries for two years each to complete a four-year term. The decision, which was unique and unprecedented, was taken when both sides were reluctant to settle their issues regarding voters.

It was decided that since Ejaz had majority of votes he would be secretary while Gulfaraz associate secretary during the first two years before the posts will be interchanged for two years.

The two groups led by Gulfaraz and Ejaz are still at loggerheads. Gulfaraz claims that it was Ejaz’s reluctance that president and other office-bearers have not been elected, although it should have been done soon after the Jan 24 elections.

“Sindh sports minister called me and Ejaz couple of days after the election so that we could have new president after mutual consultation. It was proposed by the minister that we will have two presidents like secretaries. But Ejaz refused the proposal, saying he must know first the complete list of office-bearers,” Gulfaraz claimed.

Gulfaraz said PHF by holding the Inter-club championship had violated its own rules since according to PHF’s directives there would be no activity before the elections. “PHF has no powers to hold the event and only district associations could organise Inter-club events.”

Despite the arrangement of Jan 24, Gulfaraz claimed himself the secretary and Jawaid Iqbal joint secretary, saying “when the elections have not been completed, we will consider the previous body as legitimate.”

Ejaz claimed that Inter-club championship was a PHF event and being the KHA secretary he had been appointed organising secretary.

However, he failed to answer when asked how PHF could hold Inter-club events, especially when KHA did not have a president and other officials.

“I don’t have any idea whether holding of Inter-club tournament comes under PHF domain. I admit other KHA officials are yet to be elected but Gulfaraz also held a tournament some three years ago, although he was not the KHA secretary.”

Gulfaraz, however, claimed it was Sindh Hockey Association which organised the national championship and he was asked to organise it being the president of KHA.