LAHORE: The Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF), in a highly controversial move, has appointed Shahid Pervaiz Bhindara as the adviser to PHF president after the same official was removed by Punjab Hockey Association (PHA) on May 10 as a result of a no-confidence motion tabled against him by their general council.

In a press release issued on Tuesday, the PHF stated that before going abroad, Bhindara had expressed his inability to continue as president Punjab Hockey Association (PHA) due to his personal commitments and had tendered his resignation.

“Before his departure abroad, Mr. Shahid Pervaiz Bhandara, ex-president PHA, had expressed his inability to continue as president PHA due to his personal commitments and tendered his resignation. However, keeping in view his rich expertise and keen interest in the game of hockey, retired Brig Mohammad Khalid Khokhar, president PHF has appointed Bhindara as his adviser with immediate effect.”

This is a complete somersault which the PHF has unashamedly taken on Bhindara since it was barely few days ago that this month that a federation press release had clearly stated: “Bhindara along with his secretary Ajmal Lodhi have been removed from the said posts as a result of a no-confidence motion tabled against him by the PHA general council. Punjab Hockey has been facing a crisis situation for a very long time. The absence of proper premises was badly hurting the effective functioning of the association. Resultantly, the performance of the team in various domestic activities/tournaments was continuously declining.

“The district council of Punjab Hockey Association (PHA) has exercised the provision of PHA constitution whereby; 3/4th of the council members expressed their vote of no confidence on all the office-bearers (president, secretary and treasurer) of PHA as a result of which all three office bearers have been relieved off of their duties. The council, exercising its power has further elected following office bearers as their successors: Mr Khawaja Zarar Kaleem of Gujranwala as President PHA; retired Col Asif Khokhar (younger brother of PHF president Sajjad Khokhar) of Lahore as secretary PHA and Mr Allah Dad of Jhang as treasurer PHA.”

When contacted by Dawn, PHF secretary Shahbaz Senior said it was not a big issue since Bhindara was a key hockey organiser and the PHF has decided to compensate him by appointing as adviser to PHF president.

But when reminded that Bhindara was removed by the PHA who had levelled serious charges against him, Shahbaz stumped this correspondent with a most amazing reply: “These are all small things.”

Published in Dawn, May 18th, 2016