KARACHI, April 10: The Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) on Thursday revived its Executive Board at the Congress meeting amid a stormy protest by Women’s Wing chairperson against exoneration of a national team player involved in a theft case by president Zafarullah Jamali.

Although some amendments and revival of the Executive Board should have been the major highlights of the Congress moot, a strong-worded protest by Shahida Jamil dominated the proceedings as she walked out of the meeting in protest.

She submitted a written protest to the PHF president before walking away and had to be cajoled by PHF treasurer Gulfaraz Ahmad and other officials before returning to the meeting.

The official was protesting over “exoneration” of a Pakistan women’s team player Rabia Qazi from Wapda who was caught red handed for stealing when she was in Malaysia in 2006 to play in an international event.

“She was caught red handed stealing and despite that she was exonerated by you (PHF president). It was a joke. She should have been banned. I submit an official protest,” Shahida told Jamali at the Congress before staging a walk out.

The president had said that the player was supposed to be banned for five years but later her penalty was reduced to two-year suspension after Shahida’s consent.

“I would have converted her five-year ban to two-year suspension instead of pardoning her if the Council meeting was held in November. The meeting could not be held because of my health problems and political turmoil in the country. But now I impose a two-year ban of the player. She has already faced one year penalty and now she completes another year,” the PHF president said.

Shahida was confronted by a Wapda representative Saghir Ahmad who alleged Women’s Wing official had been ruining the women’s hockey through mismanagement and inept attitude.

Later, Congress approved the revival of the Executive Board which is likely to have president, vice-president, secretary, treasurer, one representative each from provinces and women’s wing representative.“I may add some more members to the Board if the Congress approves some flexibility,” Jamali said before the house gave its approval to add new members on his discretion.

However, a proposal by Council to reduce the strength of Congress was warded off by the house and a move to withdraw affiliation of PTCL, ABL, UBL, AJ&K was rejected.

The playing rights to Port Qasim Authority (PQA) were also “legalised” when Council proposed and Congress approved them. Interestingly, PQA have been playing for the last several months and even featured in the national championship before the award of playing rights.

“The PQA and HEC have been given playing rights. PQA already had the playing rights,” PHF secretary Khalid Mahmood said but added he can’t provide the minutes of the Council or Congress meeting according to which the department was given the playing rights.

According to the PHF constitution, a department can be given playing rights or affiliation only when Council proposes and Congress ratifies. Last time Congress met on Dec 28, 2004, while during the April 2, 2007, PHF elections, the Council meeting was held after the Congress moot.

In a move to revive PHF’s marketing department, Jamali sacked business manager Mansoor Masood Khan, saying “his performance was unimpressive and “in fact it was in minus.” “When I, along with the then secretary Akhtarul Islam, went to London for FIH meeting, I had no idea who should be nominated for the FIH marketing committee. That’s why I nominated Mansoor for the FIH committee also. But now we will also request the FIH to accommodate replacement nominated by us.”

Although Jamali appointed Council member, Pervaiz Bhindara the new business manager, he refrained from disclosing the name of the person who would replace Mansoor, a close friend of Akhtar, in the FIH marketing committee.

Although according to agenda, senior and junior team managers Khawaja Zakauddin and Jahangir Butt were required to present their reports, they were not asked by the president to do so. Zaka, however, suggested initiating a national hockey league for producing more players.