KARACHI Pakistan Boxing Federation (PBF) secretary Akram Khan on Friday dropped a bombshell when he categorically said he is not under obligation to inform his president before sending out any official communication.
The PBF official said this while responding to allegations of human trafficking and asking Japan's Kadoebi Boxing Gym owner Shingo Suzuki to send an invitation letter to a boxer for applying for Japanese visa in Pakistan.
“I have all the right to write any letter that too without the knowledge or informing the president of the federation. Being the secretary, I do not need any approval from the president and am not required to even inform him if I want to write a letter to ask anyone to send an invitation letter,” Akram told a press conference where he faced a barrage of questions from reporters.
The 1988 Seoul Olympic Games bronze medallist has alleged that Akram sent a request to the president of his boxing gym, asking him to issue an invitation to Muhammad Musheer who was not a boxer.
The letter was intercepted by Hussain through Musheer's uncle who was to deliver the letter to Suzuki.
Asghar Baloch, the secretary of Karachi South Boxing Association (KSBA), has also said he had never heard of Musheer as a boxer.
On Monday, PBF chief Doda Khan was shocked when he was asked by Dawn.com about the letter, saying he had no knowledge about it.
However, in an amazing U-turn, Doda said his secretary could use the PBF letterhead without his knowledge and was entitled to write to any club, asking it for an invitation letter for any boxer.
“I am not aware of the bylaws and PBF constitution. But I have been told by all other PBF officials that secretary can write the letter and he is not required to inform the president before writing for an invitation letter for visa for any boxer. We must see that Akram did this because of a good cause. This is a tradition and previous officials also did the same thing,” he said.
Doda failed to reply when asked to mention the article through which secretary can write such a letter to any club, asking for an invitation letter for any boxer to apply for a visa.
The PBF chief, however, stayed away from the press conference and reached the venue after quite a few reporters had already left. According to him, he could not reach at the venue because his car broke down.
Earlier on Monday Akram had also told Doda on phone Musheer's father was his close friend and wanted his two sons to be sent abroad as boxers. Coincidently, Akram and Musheer belonged to Hyderabad.
Interestingly, former associate secretary, Ali Akbar Shah, who is now PBF treasurer, was given a dressing down by the then president Anwar Chowhdry for sending letter without approval and information.
Musheer, 19, who wants to become professional boxer in Japan, was also present during the press conference along with his father. He claimed that he had represented Sindh at cadet national boxing championship in Karachi held in 2005.
Doda and Akram said Hussain had been up against them because he wanted PBF to give three million rupees which was in fact promised by the prime minister not the federation.
While Akram said he had all evidences of Hussain's involvement in forgery which he would send to his sponsors, Japanese government and it sports authorities and interior ministry, Doda said he would refused to send that letter if and when Akram put it for approval.
Asked if Akram was needed to put such a letter for his approval, why he was not required to seek approval and to inform him about the letter he wrote to Suzuki for invitation letter for visa, PBF chief was unconvincing.
“Sending the proof against Hussain is internal matter, while asking for an invitation letter was not an internal PBF matter,” said Doda.
Interestingly, Akram alleged that one of the reporters who published allegation of human smuggling, used to come during Benazir international tournament earlier this year at a local hotel along with his eight to 10 friends for lunch and dinner on PBF's expense.
However, he took his words back and refused to divulge the name of the reporter when asked to name the journalist involved.
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