KARACHI, June 13: A big question mark still hangs over the eligibility of Port Qasim Authority (PQA), who have made their debut at ongoing President’s Gold Cup, as the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) and technical officials says they don’t have a fair idea whether the department has the playing rights.

PQA, who were not allowed to participate at the national championship in March since they didn’t have NOC’s from the departments from where they had recruited players, have finally made their first appearance by taking part in the current tournament.

Interestingly, PHF secretary Khalid Mahmood said he didn’t have any clue whether PQA have been given playing rights.

“I do not know whether they (PQA) have the rights. Organising secretary Gulfaraz (Ahmad) can comment on that, I can’t. You always bring up something controversial,” Khalid told Dawn, while refusing to comment when asked only a PHF official, especially its secretary could shed light on the issue.

Although former secretary Akhtarul Islam said that PQA had been ‘given’ playing rights by PHF, it is incomprehensible how a department could be given the rights since no Council and Congress meetings were held during the past two years.

Matters such as awarding playing rights and affiliation of departments are recommended by Council and approved by the Congress.

The PHF Congress met on Dec 28, 2004 before the elections and other meetings on April 2 this year. Interestingly, Akhtar, himself was a ‘selected’ official who was handpicked by the then PHF chief Tariq Kirmani.

In this scenario, it is hard to believe that PQA have been given playing rights and if it has been done, it was without the recommendation and approval of the Council and Congress.

President’s Gold Cup tournament director Shamsuz Zaman claims that PQA have playing rights but could not provide any document to support his claims.

“They (PQA) have rights but I don’t have any document. I will talk to concerned people and can inform you about this issue tomorrow (Thursday),” the official said when asked how a department could be given playing rights few months ago when PHF Congress last met in 2004.

The tournament has become a farce since PQA has inducted at least four players from other departments recently, violating the PHF constitution. Jawaid Mazhar, Mohammad Samiullah, and Wasif Raza, who were SSGC players, and Owais Khan from NBP, have been recruited by PQA.

The tournament director said SSGC and NBP had issued No Objection Certificates to the players but added he had not been provided the copies of the NOC’s by PQA.

“I will ask PQA to provide copies of the NOC tomorrow or the players won’t be allowed to play quarter-final against HBL,” the official said.

However, even if SSGC and NBP have issued NOC’s, even then drafting players from other departments during this period of the year, is a violation of PHF constitution which says “…the transfer period of the players from one department to another shall be first fortnight of January and July each year. Department/service players may seek transfer from parent club/district within one month of their joining service…”

Meanwhile, Wapda coach Wahid Mirza claimed that PQA had inducted their player Atif without transfer and NOC.

“He (Atif) is our player. He didn’t play today, but if he does tomorrow we will protest.”

HBL team coach Ghafoor also said he would not allow Atif to represent in Thursday’s quarter-final.