June 17, 2008	Tuesday	Jamadi-us-Sani 12, 1429

KARACHI, June 16: Pakistan hockey was rocked by turmoil on Monday as the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) secretary Khalid Mahmood was sacked and replaced by inexperienced Asif Bajwa in a controversial decision by Ministry of Sports.

Although the hockey critics were anticipating Khalid’s removal soon after the impending 2008 Beijing Olympics owing to the team’s horrible showing during his tenure, his unceremonious exit on Monday came as a bit of a shock with the Games just two months away.

Khalid, a hockey legend who never gained control over the administrative affairs since his appointment on April 2, 2007, was abruptly shown the door by Federal Minister of Sports, Najimuddin Khan, who is also the president of the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB).

“In exercise of powers conferred on him vide rule 4 (xi) PSB rules 1981, the Federal Minister for Sports in his capacity as president of PSB is pleased to remove Mr Khalid Mahmood from position of honorary secretary PHF with immediate effect. The PSB president is pleased to appoint Mr Asif Bajwa as honorary secretary PHF on ad hoc basis till further orders,” a PSB letter F.47-10/2008-PSB (SO) stated on Monday.

Following Khalid’s removal by the minister, rumours were rife late Monday evening that PHF chief Zafarullah Jamali had also resigned with Olympian Qasim Zia taking over as the next PHF chief.

Sources believe that such a drastic decision by Jamali could result from the manner of Khalid’s removal by the Federal Minister of Sports who did not take the ex-premier into confidence before the decision.

However, none of the PHF officials were aware of Jamali’s whereabouts nor would they confirm his resignation. A Lahore-based PHF official, when pressed, said he could neither confirm nor deny Jamali’s stepping down.

The manner in which Asif Bajwa has been “appointed” secretary PHF by the minister is highly questionable. While the minister, according to the rules, may have powers to remove any official of a federation, he has no authority to “appoint” or even nominate a replacement.

The rule 4 (xi) clearly says that, “function of the board is to take with the approval of the president, such disciplinary action as may be necessary against any national game and sports organization including the amendment or suspension of its constitution and removal of any of its office-bearers in the interest of the games and in order to maintain discipline, provided that the president may, in such cases as he may deem fit, obtain the approval of the Patron-in-Chief of the Board before authorizing action under this clause.”

When approached, Khalid said although he was not aware of Jamali’s status, he felt that he may have resigned since he was not consulted over the decision.

“Mr Jamali and I would have definitely resigned had the ministry or the concerned authorities asked us to do so. I don’t know if Jamali has really resigned but if he has done so, it must be because he was not taken into confidence before the decision of my removal,” Khalid told Dawn from Lahore.

He further said that Asif’s appointment was certainly illegal since a minister had no powers under any circumstances to appoint an official.

“But since there is no law prevalent here, anything can happen and anything could be done. So the ministry decided to remove me without giving any reason and even went on to appoint a secretary which is definitely illegal.

“I wonder what was the hurry about? They (ministry) could have waited for Olympics which are round the corner. Sky would not have fallen had they waited for a couple of months. How will the new set up prepare for the Olympics now?”

Khalid denied that he was a rubber-stamp secretary and that Jamali had been running a one-man show from day one. “If we have a president like Gen Aziz (Khan) then we can say he is interfering, but when a person who is attached with hockey for so many decades is our chief then he should be allowed to have his say in the administrative matter,” said Khalid, who is a close friend of Jamali.

Asif Bajwa, when approached, said he will have something to say but not before Tuesday. “I am driving but can and will certainly talk tomorrow,” said the new secretary.

Asif first became the junior team coach and finished his tenure with 5-2 defeat against India in the Junior Asia Cup final in Karachi.

He was then attached with senior team coach Dutchman Roelant Oltmans following Tahir Zaman’s sacking. He became the senior team coach following completion of Oltmans’ one-year contract in 2004 only to produce a string of ordinary performances.