December 30, 2006	Saturday	Zilhaj 08, 1427

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LAHORE, Dec 29: Olympian Naveed Alam was suspended as secretary Punjab Hockey Association (PHA) by his president Mian Imran Masood. “You have failed to perform the duties of Punjab Hockey Association as secretary. You have acted upon various matters unconstitutionally and misused your powers,” Mian Imran, also the provincial education minister stated in his order of suspension issued on Friday.

“Your acts have defamed the PHA and created unrest among the affiliated units. Therefore, I the president of PHA under the clause (G) of Article 13 and under the clause 25 (F) hereby suspend you to continue as honorary secretary of PHA with immediate effect,” the order further stated.

The PHA president also ordered Munawar Hussain Azad, joint secretary of the association to take over the charge as secretary till further notice.

When contacted, Naveed claimed that a conspiracy was hatched against him by a group heading by former Olympian Akhtar Rasool.

Naveed said he would face all the groups because as secretary PHA he had served the game sincerely.

Naveed claimed that during his one-year tenure he spent Rs 70 lakhs from his own pocket for which he was ready to give accounts.

He termed Mian Masood's act as illegal and said he would attend the general council meeting of the PHA, summoned by the president on Jan 16, to clear his position, before the members.

He said Akhtar Rasool was involved in dirty politics only to send his younger brother Khalid Rasool as PHA's representative to the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF).

He alleged that two former Olympians Asif Bajwa and Rana Mujahid were also involved in the conspiracy.

However, with the suspension of Naveed, it has been cleared that the persons involved in the hockey affairs did not learn any lesson.