KARACHI, July 2: Concerned authorities woke up from deep slumber to tighten noose around the Pakistan Boxing Federation (PBF) as the Ministry of Sports has asked the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) to embark on a ‘fact-finding mission’ on corruption charges against boxing chief Anwar Chowdhry.

The boxing affairs took this new twist when the PSB recently intimated the Ministry of Sports about a series of stories published by Dawn, exposing financial irregularities by the PBF chairman Chowdhry both at national and international level.

“We have come to know about corruption scandals against the PBF official through press reports. It is not a formal inquiry but, yes we have asked the PSB to find the facts, what’s really happening and whether the reports are true,” secretary, ministry of sports, Syed Bilal Ahmed, told Dawn from Islamabad on Monday.

The official said since the PBF had been affiliated with the PSB, the Ministry of Sports would not take any action directly against boxing officials, adding that the PSB would submit its report to the ministry. However, according to secretary sports, the PSB has not been given a deadline to submit the report.

Bilal, who is also the PSB vice-president, categorically said nobody would be spared when asked what action would be taken against the PBF and its officials if the PSB’s report confirmed corruption within the ranks of the PBF.

“One thing I can assure that since the Ministry of Sports does not tolerate corruption, nobody will go scot-free. We have zero tolerance for corruption and there is no room for those who are involved in such activities,” he said.

The PSB official said the PBF could be suspended, but didn’t elaborate what sort of action could be taken against Chowdhry or the other PBF officials if the PSB also reported corruption.

“I can’t say what kind of action we will take against the boxing officials in case we find them involved in corruption. Let the PSB find the facts first and then we will decide what should be the line of action.”

Bilal again asked to wait for the PSB report when questioned why the Ministry of Sports was reluctant to use its clause 4 (XI) under which officials of sports federations can be removed to maintain discipline.

The clause 4 (XI) says: “….function of board is to take, with the approval of the president, such disciplinary action as may be necessary against any 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…”

The Pakistan Hockey Federation chief Arif Abbasi was removed on the order of Derick Cyprian, the then minister of sports on June 17, 2000, who exercised powers vested under clause 4, (XI). Under the PSB constitution, the Minister of Sports is the president of the Board.

Sources said although the PSB was keen to suspend the PBF and put it under ad hoc as corruption scandals have tarnished the image of the country, the plan could not be executed following ‘intervention’ of some influential personalities.

Nevertheless, sources said as first step the PSB would now asked the PBF to submit explanation on the press reports in which Chowdhry had been reported to have violated the International Boxing Association (AIBA) financial rules and auditors have pulled up the PBF for financial mismanagement.

Sources said Chowdhry had recently been pestering the PSB to provide Rs4 million for sending its boxers to Cuba on a training tour. However, he was annoyed when the PSB did provide Rs2 million as grant and equal amount from some special fund announced in the past, asking the PSB to explain the nature of the grant.

Chowdhry, also the former AIBA chief, was accused last October by the international boxing body of refusing to send original invoices and supporting documents to its headquarters in Lausanne for a four-year internal audit despite several reminders.

The former head of amateur boxing again came to limelight when an AIBA executive committee member, Rudel Obreja, pointed fingers at Chowdhry for transferring $350,000 from a Swiss bank to his daughter’s account in Karachi, using the AIBA letterhead for correspondence. Obreja had also accused Chowdhry of receiving kickbacks from boxing gear manufacturing company Green Hill.

Chowdhry was deposed as the AIBA chief in November following the stories. In March, audit report revealed that the PBF has been operating a bank account without having any record of transactions in account books.

Chowdhry was eventually debarred by AIBA from any involvement with the ruling body in June for alleged mishandling of hundreds of thousands of dollars in federation funds.