March 18, 2006	Saturday	Safar 17, 1427

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KARACHI, March 17: Karachi Hockey Association (KHA) on Friday alleged Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) secretary Brig Musarrat Ullah Khan was illegally occupying the office.

Newly-elected secretary of KHA Gulfaraz Ahmad said Musarrat had been holding the office, although he had completed his tenure and elections should have been held in December 2005.

He said since elections had been completed at district level, there was no justification for Musarrat to continue and PHF elections should be held.

“Even the present PHF president Tariq Kirmani has been ignoring violations of PHF constitution and rules,” he said.

Gulfaraz alleged that Musarrat had been deliberately damaging the game in Sindh in general and Karachi in particular through a systematic manner by appointing what he said dubious officials.

“Though KHA elections are now complete and we have won, PHF doesn’t recognize despite the fact that coordinator for elections Sindh provincial minister Qamar Mansoor has been appointed by the PHF.

“It was Qamar who decided to have elections again as our rival group was involved in illegal activity by organizing local tournaments. And now elections in Sindh have been put on hold,” he claimed.

The KHA secretary alleged that it was PHF director administration Iftikhar Syed and director domestic hockey Muhammad Shafique who had been rigging elections in Karachi on the instructions of Musarrat to install favourites.

“Shafique has been declared persona non grata by Kirmani and it was decided not give him any PHF assignment after debacle at Junior World Cup under his managership. But he has been given task to hold elections in Sindh and Balochistan.”

Gulfaraz said Karachi had been denied its rights which could be judged from the fact that city’s representation in PHF Congress was four, while in Council there were two seats reserved for Karachi.

“Now Karachi is being represented by only one official in PHF while two in Sindh, which is a step-motherly treatment.”