ISLAMABAD, July 13 Controversial ex-Olympian Mansoor Ahmad on Monday accused the Pakistan Hockey Federation secretary Asif Bajwa of involvement in 'human trafficking' as well of misuse of authority at a crowded press conference here.

“Bajwa used the official PHF letterhead to get family visas for his wife and son and got it stamped from the German Consulate in Karachi which was a clear violation of the federation rules,” alleged the former goalkeeper who represented Pakistan in 238 international matches during the 1990s.“The PHF letter pad was misused in the case of Malik Ahtesham Zahid also. It is wrong, pathetic and shameful the way Bajwa has been misusing authority,” he said. “I request the prime minister and the sports minister to take notice of the current massive wrong doings in the PHF.”

The goalkeeper later distributed passport copies of Bajwa's family members and one Malik Ahtesham Zahid to substantiate the allegations.

When asked that even he (Mansoor) had been working with the PHF on a contract basis as junior development coordinator before getting sacked, he said “I was never in a monetary deal with the PHF regarding any assignment.”

When grilled about his own involvement in obtaining illegal US visas for others to participate in the California Cup without the permission of the federation, Mansoor said “I had applied for the visa individually but the allegations of providing visas to others are baseless.”

It must be mentioned here that Mansoor, a former Customs official, has had a chequered past with alleged involvement in a number of controversies. He was suspended as junior team coach some eight years ago and was later sacked by the then PHF officials after being arrested for stealing silver in huge quantity from a Customs warehouse, a charge for which he was later convicted and sent to prison.

Meanwhile, a top official of the PHF while reacting to Mansoor's press conference on Monday said “We will sue him [Mansoor] for his wrong allegations and statements made before the media against federation's Secretary Asif Bajwa without any evidence.”

“The visas of Bajwa's family members or of any other individual were never stamped by the German Consulate in Karachi. The information provided by Mansoor is not correct and the four-page document is redundant,” the official asserted. “The PHF secretary and the president have a mandate to go anywhere in the world and in doing so, they are not violating any law or rules of the PHF,” he concluded.

Opinion

The fallout

The fallout

Faced with an untrustworthy trade partner in the US, the economic imperative for countries would be to pursue trade diversion.

Editorial

April heat
Updated 14 Apr, 2025

April heat

A much broader and more cohesive plan is needed to meet Pakistan’s changing requirements amidst an accelerating climate crisis.
ADB’s advice
14 Apr, 2025

ADB’s advice

WITH the Trump administration’s trade war on China and the rest of the world having led to global economic...
‘Land of the free’
14 Apr, 2025

‘Land of the free’

IN Trumpian America, even those foreigners with legal status are finding that the walls are closing in on them. As...
Caught in between
Updated 13 Apr, 2025

Caught in between

In the absence of a trade agreement, under WTO rules, Pakistan cannot reduce duty rates for the US without doing the same for other countries.
Spirit of giving
13 Apr, 2025

Spirit of giving

THE recent declaration by ulema affirming that organ donation after death is not only permissible but an act of...
Targeting dissent
13 Apr, 2025

Targeting dissent

THE recent notice sent by the FIA to former senator Farhatullah Babar is deeply troubling — and revealing....