KARACHI, March 21: The hockey scenario in the country took yet another twist on Wednesday when controversial Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) secretary, Akhtarul Islam suddenly decided to step down from his post, saying he would not like to continue as a “rubber-stamp and a dummy official” under president Zafarullah Jamali who wants to run the affairs single-handedly.

“I was facing an odd situation for a long time. It is Jamali who has been running the show without my consultation on any issue. Several damaging steps are being taken. I pointed them out and resisted but since Jamali was not ready to listen, I have decided to quit. I don’t want to be a rubber-stamp or a dummy secretary,” Akhar told Dawn.

Claiming that it was Jamali who appointed the junior team officials for the forthcoming tours to Kenya and Egypt, Akhtar said the former prime minister appeared hell-bent on obliging favourites at the cost of national game.

The former Olympian said junior team manager Jahangir Butt, who is a close friend of Jamali, and Kamran Ashraf and Danish Kaleem had been deputed as coaches for the under-18 side despite his reservations.

“I was against these appointments on technical basis. I told Jamali that as Kamran is raw and is still playing for his department PIA, it looks awkward to appoint him as junior team coach. As for Danish, his conduct was questionable and therefore I didn’t recommend him also. But nobody listened,” he said.

Citing another glaring example of favouritism, Akhtar said an individual named Khawar had been named as additional coach for the junior side as he had been backed by Jamali and Jahangir. He claimed that Khawar, who belongs to National Bank, was not even the coach of his own departmental team but had been deputed as national junior team coach.

He added that even the senior team manager-cum-chief coach Islahuddin Siddiqui had been told by Jamali that Khawar would act as coach during the Azlan Shah Cup training camp to be held next month.

Akhtar said he had also raised objections over the nominations for Asian Hockey Federation (AHF) elections held recently in Malaysia where Pakistan faced a whitewash. The former secretary claimed that a junior clerk from Rajanpur named Qazi Masood was obliged by Jamali when he was nominated for the post of treasurer.

“Jamali even nominated former PHF secretary Col Mudassar (Asghar) for the post of secretary. I objected to it by saying that the colonel had no ground to contest since he has been out of picture for the last six years but all that protest, apparently, fell on deaf ears,” said Akhtar who himself came into Pakistan hockey on July 31, 2006 as a PHF secretary for the first time since his retirement almost three decades ago.

He admitted that the current Pakistan junior outfit undergoing training at Hockey Club of Pakistan has at least two or three over-aged players who were included on the request of Jahangir.

“I again resisted and emphasised that under-18 team is strictly a junior outfit but Jahangir remained adamant. It was he who asked that over-aged players be included for the forthcoming Egypt and Kenya tours.”

However, Akhtar was at a loss for words when asked why it took almost eight months for him to quit since he knew about the mess. “When Jamali took over on Aug 22, 2006, I offered to resign but since he asked me to continue, I did.”

Although Akhtar launched a scathing attack on Jamali for creating all the mess, he conceded that he had no option but to call it quits since it was obvious that he didn’t have president’s support for the April 2 PHF elections in Karachi.

Akhtar’s outburst and his decision to quit, however, have another reason too. With his retirement from PIA in January this year, he would not have been able to contest the elections because he has no representation from any department after that.

Akhtar, however, admitted that he too blundered by not showing director administration PHF Iftikhar Syed the door while other directors had been sacked soon after Jamali took over.

“I believe that it was my mistake. I should have shown Iftikhar Syed the door as I feel he is also being used by Jamali to manipulate things. I think he should be removed.”

Akhtar admitted that selection was made rather than election to resolve dispute of Sindh Hockey Association (SHA). Akhtar was at the centre of controversy when he “approved” a list of SHA officials followed by a formation of another body. The SHA officials “selected” Sindh Sports Minister Qamar Mansoor as new president on Jan 26, 2007 at a meeting at minister’s office.

“I agree technicalities, like announcing voters’ list and filing of nomination papers may not have been considered. But I had no option to defuse tension and resolve the issue.”

Akhtar was also involved in Karachi Hockey Association poll drama last year. The KHA officials filed a petition against PHF and Sindh High Court judge had ruled that bailiff was not allowed entry into the stadium although Akhtar was present there.

PHF president Jamali was not available for comments.