The National Assembly Standing Committee on Inter-Provincial Coordination held a heated session on Monday to discuss matters related to the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF), including elections and the establishment of a scrutiny mechanism for hockey clubs.
The meeting, chaired by Sheikh Aftab, began with unanimous approval of the previous session’s minutes. Members were briefed on PHF elections, and in collaboration with the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB), the committee decided to form a scrutiny panel to set standards and assess hockey clubs across the country.
The PSB chairman said the committee will ensure players’ data is verified and that every club has a president and secretary. Registration documents and details of club grounds will also be required. An online portal has been established for registration, and initial recommendations for Islamabad clubs have already been prepared. A total of 1,100 clubs nationwide will be assessed according to these standards before PHF elections are held.
During the meeting, MNA Shehla Raza questioned the legitimacy of PHF President Tariq Bugti, urging that elections be held as soon as possible. She cited previous concerns over the federation’s performance and alleged mismanagement, adding that additional oversight bodies had been formed against the elected body.
Members including Khawaja Izharul Hasan and Anjum Aqeel Khan argued over repeated points and called for fair discussion. Dr. Mehrin Bhutto asked the PSB chairman about the legal status of the PHF, to which he confirmed that there is only one federation, affiliated with both PSB and the International Hockey Federation (FIH). He clarified that the Attorney General’s report did not declare the PHF president’s appointment illegal.
PHF Secretary Rana Mujahid stated that the federation will cooperate with the committee and PSB to conduct club scrutiny. The DG PSB confirmed that fair scrutiny will be ensured and emphasized that transparent elections remain the only solution to the ongoing issues.
The committee later formed a sub-committee on PHF matters, appointing Dr. Mehrin Bhutto as convener, with Anjum Aqeel Khan and Khawaja Izharul Hasan as members, to oversee scrutiny and preparations for elections.
