LAHORE: The Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) officials have condoled the sad demise of Zafarullah Khan Jamali, former Prime Minister of Pakistan, president of the PHF and hockey chief selector.

In their condolence messages, PHF President Brig. (retd.) Khalid Sajjad Khokhar, Secretary Asif Bajwa, chief selector Manzoor Junior, head coach Khawaja Junaid, Olympians Chaudhry Akhtar Rasool, Kaleemullah, Samiullah, Danish Kaleem, Qasim Zia, Salim Nazim and many others condoled the death of Jamali, a lover and patron of the game of hockey.

They prayed to God to rest the departed soul in eternal peace. Former Test cricketer and chief selector Mohammad Ilyas also condoled the death and he said when Mr. Jamali was leading the Government College hockey team in 1964, they both had the Roll of Honour the same year and enjoyed a very good friendship.

As Prime Minister of Pakistan from 2002 to 2004, Jamali had ordered those departments which had shut down their hockey teams, to restore all the teams. Some departments, though restored their teams, others could not at yet. After the Prime Minister’s job he was elected as president of the PHF to continue from 2004 to 2008.

Jamali had also led Aitchison College and Government of College, University hockey teams in the mid of 60s. He also represented Lahore Zone team against the national team of Kenya in 1962. Jamali’s love for the game of hockey remained with him, besides having his involvement in the country’s politics. Jamali was the Chef de Mission of Pakistan contingent, which won gold medal in hockey in 1984 Olympics.

Published in Dawn, December 4th, 2020