KARACHI, March 21 Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) President Qasim Zia has apologised to the country's former Olympians for the disparaging remarks made by the federation secretary Asif Bajwa on a television show.

Bajwa, in the programme, compared the Olympians of the '60s and '70s to old cars and said Pakistan hockey could manage without their involvement.

Hurt by the remark, the Olympians, including Islahuddin Siddiqui and Samiullah, lodged a strong protest with Zia, who himself is a former Olympian and an influential member of the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party in Punjab.

“I am sincerely sorry for the remarks about former Olympians made by the federation secretary. I have spoken to him and I sincerely apologise to the former players for the hurt it caused them,” Zia said.

Qasim Zia also said he would like the former Olympians to join hands with the PHF and work for the betterment of Pakistan hockey but Samiullah said that this was impossible until the PHF secretary changed his attitude and learned to respect former players.—PPI