KARACHI, Jan 8: Calling the grilling by Senate on abysmal decline of hockey as “sinister moves” by miscreants, PHF secretary Brig Musarrat Ullah Khan has asked his president to “thwart” future meetings of Standing Committee on Sports by involving the prime minister.

In a bid to escape the wrath of the Senate and the criticism over five and half years of systematic decline of the game under his tenure, Musarrat has officially written to Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) chief Tariq Kirmani to take remedial measures for tackling the criticism.

In a letter dated Jan 5, 2006, a copy of which Dawn has obtained, Musarrat wrote to Kirmani that despite being the supreme body of the government, Senate had been calling the PHF officials for questioning the decline of the game.

Musarrat says it is sad that the grilling of the PHF top officials is being done by Senate only on the “whims” of some disgruntled elements as personal vendetta and to malign the PHF and its hierarchy.

“It reflects a sad state of affairs that at the whims of some disgruntled elements, the highest body of state mechanism is activated just to settle personal scores and more for the humiliation of a national sports federation and its top functionaries.

“Under the garb of process of scrutiny being carried out throughout Pakistan, on the basis of which election process is underway, some miscreants are set to causing damage to the smooth functioning of the federation,” Musarrat wrote.

The PHF official wrote the letter in response to Senate Secretariat notice on Jan 3 to discuss Pakistan’s dismal performance at Chennai Champions Trophy where they escaped relegation by edging past India 4-3 in fifth place playoff. Apart from Kirmani and Musarrat, chief selector Akhtar Rasool has also been summoned by the Senate.

Suggesting ways to evade the ongoing probes and grilling by Senate, Musarrat asked the president to involve Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, also the Patron-in-Chief of PHF, to “forestall and thwart” future meetings of the Senate.

“It would be in the fitness of things that of the prevailing sinister moves, the prime minister/Patron-in-Chief of PHF, is informed to forestall and thwart such measures that are really harmful to the promotion of the game in the country.

“The President of Pakistan, being the Patron-in-Chief of Pakistan Cricket Board is always kept informed about the cricket affairs and it is desirable that prime minister, is also kept informed,” he suggested.

While country’s national sport has been going through the worst-ever and darkest period of history, for Musarrat, holding of Senate meetings after each ignominious performance is an unnecessary exercise.

“It does not appear pertinent that the high body of Senate may hold its meetings after every hockey tournament,” the secretary wrote, contending that the Indian legislators did not create a storm, although the arch-rivals had been relegated in Chennai Champions Trophy last December.

“The Australian cricket team lost Ashes to England but no such steps were taken by the Australian high-ups as winning or losing is always part of the game. The Indian hockey team secured sixth position at Championship Trophy and were relegated but no such hue and cry was raised in any of their set-up.”

However, Musarrat did not mention Pakistan hockey team’s performances during his tenure, mind-boggling administrative decisions and controversy such as involvement of PHF in human trafficking. Pakistan fared poorly whenever they competed in any major international event.

Since July 2000, Pakistan participated in two Olympics, a World Cup, five Champions Trophy tournaments, a Commonwealth Games, an Asian Games, and several other events. All Pakistan got were record-breaking worst-ever performances like 7-1 semifinal thrashing by minnows New Zealand at 2002 Manchester Commonwealth Games, and 7-4 loss to India at 2003 Amstelveen Champions Trophy. It was the first time that Pakistan came empty-handed from the 2002 Asian Games in Seoul.

To tackle yet another Senate meeting on Monday, Musarrat advised Kirmani to attend the meeting without clarifying whether or not he and Akhtar would be attending it. “It is strongly recommended that President PHF may please attend the meeting.”