The Pakistan Hockey Federation's decision of imposing a life ban on former Pakistani captain Mansoor Ahmed and ex-coach Naveed Alam is unprecedented in our hockey history. This raucous decision by the PHF has further damaged the federation's image both nationally and internationally.

During its July 17th meeting in Karachi, which was presided over by federation chief Qasim Zia, a former Olympian fullback, the PHF Executive Board rejected all allegations that were levelled by the two ex-Olympians on the PHF secretary, Asif Bajwa. The allegations against Bajwa, who is also the senior team manager, were of human trafficking and financial mismanagement, amongst other things.

Here, the PHF should have at least shown some amount of tolerance and maturity in listening to the charges made against its secretary. That our national sport is on a steep decline is no hidden secret, for Pakistan, once a great hockey nation, currently has no regional or international titles under its belt. And then again, criticism is always a part of a democratic setup and it is here that PHF's approach in handling the Bajwa case seems biased.

The life ban imposition  has also come as a warning sign for other former Olympians, telling them that they would face similar consequences, if they come out with any sort of allegations against the federation officials. For now, under the life ban, both Mansoor and Naveed cannot hold any office at any level, be it Pakistan hockey or at the
international level.

Fairness demanded that both Mansoor and Naveed should have been invited to appear before the Board during the July 17 meeting, with substantial proof to support their allegations. If their charges were proven wrong, disciplinary action could be taken against them. But even in such a setting, the imposition of a life ban was and is against all cannons of justice.

The whole controversy began with Bajwa's induction as the PHF secretary to replace Khalid Mahmood on the eve of August 2008 Beijing Olympics, by former federal Sports Minister Najmuddin Khan. Then when Qasim Zia took over as the head of the federation after Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali resigned, Bajwa was officially elected as the federation secretary, following the planned campaign launched against Jamali by other officials.

We now have a brand new controversy which started with the unjust imposition of the life ban under no official procedure by the PHF. Both Mansoor and Naveed have been silently punished with this violation of natural justice by the PHF.

Now the only way left for the PHF to prove its impartiality is to form a three-member independent committee, headed by a former chief justice of the Supreme Court, and probe into the allegations made against Asif Bajwa. If the charges against him are proved, he should immediately be removed from the post of secretary.