ISLAMABAD: In a major development, the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) on Friday after notifying life ban on Pakistan Boxing Federation (PBF) president Khalid Meh­mood, secretary retired Lt Col Nasir Ijaz Tung and boxer Zohaib Rasheed, referred the matter concerning slipping of the boxer in Italy to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA).

Through an official letter, the PSB requested director Anti Human Smuggling Wing of the FIA to probe the matter.

The PSB Board of Governors (BoG) after endorsing the findings of an inquiry committee comprising members from the IPC Ministry and the PSB had decided “to refer the case to the FIA for further investigation to the context of probe of human trafficking elements in this case,” read the letter of PSB dated Sept 27, 2024.

Zohaib slipped in Italy in March this year, a move which caused huge embarrassment for Pakistan at international level.

In 2022, two other boxers — Suleman Baloch and Nazeerullah — slipped in England during the Commonwealth Games staged in Birmingham. However, the PSB in its abovementioned letter, addressed to FIA, did not mention the Birmingham episode.

Recently, PSB’s BoG after endorsing the findings of an inquiry report banned the PBF president and secretary from holding a position in any sports federation of Pakistan in future. The BoG also imposed a permanent ban on Zohaib from representing country in any events.

The inquiry report which was finalised in July this year had also stated that several Pakistan boxers proceeded to Italy in March this year to compete in a tournament in question without getting the mandatory NOC from the government and permission from the PSB.

The committee, besides imposing a ban on both Khalid, who is also Pakis­tan Olympic Associa­tion secretary, and Nasir, poin­ted out that “prima-facie the case involves human trafficking,” and the matter, after getting input from the BoG of the PSB, may be referred to the FIA.

The BoG, which met on Sept 10, approved the findings of the inquiry report.

“After deliberation, the Board approved the inquiry committee’s recommendations. This includes (a) referring the case to the FIA for further investigation to the extent of probe of human trafficking element (b) recovering the Rs1.0 (one) million surety bond from the responsible office-bearers; and (c) banning Mr. Muhammad Khalid Mahmood, President, PBF and retired Lt. Col Muhammad Nasir Ijaz Tung, Secretary General PBF, from holding any position in National Sports Federations in the future,” read the minutes of the BoG meeting.

Meanwhile, the PSB also requested the FIA to check the NOCs of all those sportspersons/athletes/players, coaches and officials who claim to represent Pakistan abroad in any international sports competition.

The PSB on Friday also issued a notification, imposing ban on said office-bearers of the PBF and Zohaib.

“It has been conclusively established that the failure to submit the mandatory “Undertaking” and “Surety Bond” and failure to seek Government app­roval for the No Objection Certificate (NOC) for Zohaib Rasheed’s participation in the tournament, was on the part of Muhammad Khalid Mahmood, President of the PBF, and retired Lt Col Muhammad Nasir Ijaz Tung, Secretary General of the PBF. Consequently, the Pakistan Sports Board has decided to impose a penalty of Rs1.0 million, equivalent to the amount required at the time of submission of the Surety Bond, from the aforementioned individuals as a result of their failure to fulfill their responsibilities,” read the PSB notification.

It further stated: “The PSB Board has also approved a permanent life ban on Mr. Muhammad Khalid Mahmood and retired Lt Col Muhammad Nasir Ijaz Tung from holding any official position within any National Sports Federation (NSF) in the future. Consequently, they are no longer to be considered or treated as the President and Secretary General of the Pakistan Boxing Federation (PBF), respectively.

“This decision has been made in light of their gross negligence and failure to fulfill their official responsibilities, which has resulted in a serious breach of trust and tarnished the reputation of Pakistan on the international stage,” the notification added.

Khalid and Nasir could not be reached for their comments on Friday.

A few days ago, however, Nasir told Dawn that there was no PBF fault in the case of boxer Zohaib, terming the inquiry report baseless and the subsequent decision of the BoG illegal. Nasir had further said that slipping of any athlete was an individual act.

Published in Dawn, September 28th, 2024