PHF President rejects caretaker government's appointment of ad hoc head

The President of the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF), Brigadier Retired Khalid Sajjad Khokhar, has refused to accept the appointment of an ad hoc president by the caretaker government, calling it illegal and unconstitutional.

He said that the caretaker Prime Minister had no authority to interfere in the affairs of the sports federation, and that such a move violated Pakistan's agreement with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the International Hockey Federation (FIH).

In a press conference in Islamabad on Saturday, President PHF said that he would inform the IOC and the FIH about the situation and demand the withdrawal of the illegal notification.

He said the caretaker government's reference to the Election Commission and the National Olympic Committee (NOC) in PHF matters was incomprehensible, and that any attempt to illegally occupy the offices of the PHF was regrettable.

He warned that the interference by the caretaker government could lead to the banning of the federation by the international bodies.