The former PHF employee said Asif had been involved in what he called “economic murder” of his family and it was particularly disturbing since the secretary had been receiving hefty grants in the name of hockey.

KARACHI While a group “loyal” to Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) was busy in defending top hockey officials at a press conference at Hockey Club of Pakistan on Monday, a sacked employee threatened to commit suicide if the money he loaned to PHF was not returned.

The group, which also included sacked Pakistan coach Shahid Ali Khan, was in a fix after Imtiaz Baig, a former Karachi-based PHF accountant, reached the venue along with his family and took off his shirt to set it on fire.

“I have taken my shirt off to set it on fire in front of this building where I used to work today. I will set myself on fire next time if PHF secretary Asif Bajwa keeps refusing to give the money that the PHF had borrowed from me,” said Imtiaz at the venue after he was prevented by journalists from setting his shirt on fire.

The former PHF employee said Asif had been involved in what he called “economic murder” of his family and it was particularly disturbing since the secretary had been receiving hefty grants in the name of hockey.

“I have kids and I have to raise these kids just the way Asif and people who work at Hockey Club of Pakistan have to raise their kids. It has been several months but I havent received the amount which PHF had borrowed from me,” Imtiaz told Dawn.com.

The former PHF official raised a hue and cry and protested at a time when a group of local PHF officials and some former players was having a press conference in reply to incendiary rhetoric against Asif by another group of Olympians and former players on Sunday following the World Cup debacle.

Imtiaz has given an ultimatum to Asif that if his amount was not returned till Friday, he would commit suicide by self immolation.

Although PHF chief Qasim Zia boasts of bringing millions of rupees into federations coffers, PHF is liable to pay Rs174,500 to Imtiaz who also had appealed to the prime minister to help him recover the amount.

Before being sacked, Imtiaz had given Rs 94,500 to PHF Karachi Camp Office at Hockey Club of Pakistan as it was short of cash to meet the PHF expenditures. The amount was for paying gas bill, air tickets, construction of posts for TV cameras, cell phone bills of Asif Bajwa and selector Rana Mujahid, surety bonds of national team players, insurance and catering bills for the officials during series between Pakistan senior and junior teams.

Apart from the said amount which is yet to be paid back Imtiaz had also provided Rs 80,000 to help PHF meet the expenses during 2006-07, but the federation is yet to pay the money back, although it had been recorded in the audit book.

The amount was spent by Imtiaz on PHF expenditures after the assurance by the Karachi Camp Office that the money would be paid back once the details of the expenses would be received by Lahore-based PHF headquarters.

Imtiaz also alleges that although PHF treasurer Gulfaraz Ahmad Khan had been thrice requested in writing to pay back the amount, he didn't pay heed.

Imtiazs wife Shaifa had also sent a letter to prime minister and chairman of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Sports, Jamshaid Dasti on Sept 5, 2009, apprising them about the situation.

The former PHF employee, however, never received a single penny, even after being assured by PHF director administration Iftikhar Syed that the money would be released as soon as the cheque was issued from PHF headquarters.

Imtiaz, who was removed on Feb 10, 2009, had already sued Asif, seeking Rs 34.68million in damages for what he claims was illegal sacking. The case is pending against Asif in Sindh High Court.