Khokhar re-elected PHF chief

ISLAMABAD: Brig (rtd) Khalid Sajjad Khokhar was reelected as the president Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) for second term in office during elections held in Islamabad Tuesday.

Less than three years back, Brig (rtd) Khokhar took over the reins of PHF for the first time following a planned coup against 1982 World Cup winning captain Akhtar Rasool’s federation. He later sought vote of confidence from the PHF Congress, days after Akhtar Rasool was asked to resign by Nawaz Sharif government.

On Tuesday Brig (rtd) Khokhar who is a close relative of Interior Minister Ehsan Iqbal again took over as the president for second term in office.

Soon after his election, PHF president said his effort would be to improve national team performance and for that very reason, the federation has hired services of foreign coach and trainer. Pakistan national team has finished 7th in just concluded 10-team XXI Commonwealth Games. World’s best teams including Germany, Holland, Argentina, Belgium, Spain, Ireland and Korea teams were not part of these Games.

Ranked 13th in the world, Pakistan hockey team has struggled hard in recent past to match the best in the world. Brig (rtd) Khokhar however hoped that national team would perform well in the forthcoming Champions Trophy to be held in Holland in late June and later in the Asian Games in August-September. “We have focused our attention on team’s performance in the Champions Trophy and later in the Asian Games.” Journalists present on the occasion questioned about total chaos in majority of Punjab districts and Islamabad hockey elections.

The newly elected President Brig (rtd) Khalid Khokhar thanked the house for reposing confidence in him. Chief Election Commissioner Chaudhry Mohammad Riaz conducted the elections.

Ch Shafiq represented Pakis Olympic Association (POA) in elections while Azam Dar was the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) nominee. Following office bearers were elected for the next four years (2018-2022).

President: Brig (rtd) Khalid Sajjad Khokhar. Vice Presidents: Khawar Anwar Khawaja (Punjab), Mohamad Saeed Khan (KP),Chaudhry Ismail Gujjar (Balochistan), Syed Ghulam Mustafa Shah (Sindh). Secretary General: Shahbaz Ahmad .

Treasurer: M.Ikhlaq Usmani