August 26, 2006	Saturday	Sha'aban 1, 1427

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KARACHI, Aug 25: Former Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) treasurer Iqbal Bali who was called up to help PHF audit its accounts, has been abruptly directed to leave headquarters in the middle of scrutiny of account books.

Iqbal, who had tendered his resignation as PHF treasurer under protest on Jan 14 on the irregularities in club scrutiny and accused the then secretary Brig Musarrat Ullah Khan of rigging district associations’ polls, was called up by the new PHF secretary Akharul Islam to visit PHF headquarters in Lahore last week.

The secretary had requested Iqbal to help Aslam Baig and Company — the auditors who are scrutinizing the accounts from the time when Iqbal was the treasurer. The basic objective was to help the auditors audit the account during which Iqbal took care of PHF accounts as treasurer.

“I was invited by new secretary Akhtarul Islam to come to Lahore to help the auditors of the account during which I served from July 2005 to Jan 2006. It was the accounts of the last fiscal year for which I was supposed to extend help. I went to Lahore and started the work. I worked there from Aug 21 to 23 before being asked to quit by the secretary,” Iqbal told Dawn from Faisalabad on Friday.

According to Iqbal, the reason for sudden change of plans was that his help was not needed and Akhtar told him he would be called only if his assistance was needed by the auditing firm.

However, sources said since Akhtar is a close friend of Musarrat, he has been requested by the former secretary not to involve Iqbal in the auditing of the accounts. Iqbal, a bitter rival of Musarrat, in his resignation had charged the former secretary with urging his hand-picked people to manipulate the district associations election results and playing dirty games.

Interestingly, it is yet to be known who approved next fiscal year’s annual budget and expenditures. There is no trace as to who actually approved the budget and how the financial matters are being run since Jan 2006 till now without the approval of Congress.

According to the PHF constitution, Council must recommend the annual expenditures and budget and only Congress could approve the budget.

Nevertheless, although a Council meeting was held earlier this year, no Congress meeting has been convened since Dec 28, 2004. Although being the president of the PHF Tariq Kirmani, who has now stepped down, had unlimited financial powers, constitutionally Congress is supreme body and only it can approve the budget.

“… to consider and approval of annual budget, audited statement of accounts, annual report and appointment of auditors ….” says the PHF constitution’s article 12 (d) (vi) regarding the powers and duties of the Congress.

Besides putting the game on track again, it will be yet another daunting task for the new PHF chief Zafarullah Jamali to check whether any financial irregularities were committed earlier this year.