Asif Bajwa at a press conference - APP photo.

KARACHI After facing ignominy on the field, Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) secretary Asif Bajwa now faces another crisis; he has been dragged into court by one of his sacked employees, claiming Rs34.68 million as damages.

Mirza Imtiaz Baig, the plaintiff, has stated that his removal by Asif as PHF`s Karachi-based accountant was illegal since the secretary didn`t have powers under the PHF constitution to remove him without any valid reason.

The plaintiff has asked for Rs24.68 million as damages which he could have earned during the service with PHF and rupees one-million for stigma and loss of reputation because of what he alleged were baseless allegations by Asif. The plaintiff has contended that owing to allegations by Asif he would also not be able to find a job.

In a suit filed against Asif and the PHF in the Sindh High Court, the former PHF employee alleged that Asif neither conducted an inquiry nor gave a chance for explanation which made his sacking illegal.

He said that although he had served with several PHF presidents and secretaries in his 20-year service without having any problems and facing allegations, he was removed through a letter on Feb 10, 2009, challenging his honesty, dignity and sincerity.

While the secretary leveled those charges against him, Imtiaz claimed, he had been removed without any notice and providing proof that he was dishonest or insincere.

Imtiaz said not only he had been rendered jobless through Asif`s action, but that he also lost his reputation earned during his long service with the hockey federation under hockey stalwarts and administrators such as Brig Manzoor Hussain Atif and Brig Abdul Hameed.

The plaintiff stated that he wrote to PHF secretary, asking him as to why his services had been terminated without any valid reason and after unsubstantiated charges against him. But, he said, he never received a reply from the secretary.

He further added that he opted to move court against Asif and the PHF only when he also never received a response from the PHF Patron-in-Chief, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani despite an appeal to intervene.

`The way I have been removed is just like making PHF a laughing stock and shows lust for power which has damaged PHF`s reputation. PHF is indeed autonomous but not a dictatorial organisation which can remove any staff, leveling baseless charges.

`The present secretary has perhaps forgotten 1996 Olympics before which he had refused to participate in trials to force PHF meet his demands. I appeal the President of Pakistan, prime minister, and federal sports minister to do justice by restoring me,` Imtiaz wrote in a letter to prime minister before filing the suit.

Imtiaz, in the suit said, Asif acted against the hockey federation till his demands were not met by the hockey officials just 20 to 30 days before the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. He also alleged that Asif had recently recruited few individuals without following the proper process and merit.

PHF, under Asif, has also fired Lahore-based executive secretary Mohammad Safdar the same day when Imtiaz was sacked.

Imtiaz has asked that the termination letter issued by Asif be withdrawn and orders of his reinstatement be issued apart from damages he has claimed.

The Sindh High Court additional registrar has issued summon to Asif to appear before him on May 28 for comments in his defence.