Former coach Alam accuses PHF of human trafficking

Karachi:

In a serious allegation, former national coach Naved Alam has accused the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) of being involved in human trafficking in the garb of hockey tours to Europe.

Alam claimed that in April 2008 the PHF management sent its officials - Rana Mujahid, Asif Bajwa and Shahbaz Junior - and one Mujahid Shah to deliver lectures in Italy.

"The visas were arranged through a gentleman called Nawaz Rana who is said to be Shahbaz Junior's brother. The group returned later without Mujahid, who slipped during the tour," Alam, who claims to have documents to prove everything, said.

"Later, in September 2008, an entire team was sent to Italy for some unknown tournament with agent Nawaz Rana again providing the visas and they never returned," added Alam.

PHF president Qasim Zia has appointed an inquiry committee to look into the matter.

"The federation committees, including its executive board, are all dummy but Qasim Zia's involvement in the matter will insure an in depth inquiry," Alam said.

Interestingly, PHF had sent a showcause notice to Alam for misappropriation of funds during a training tour Europe last year before the Beijing Olympics.

"I have submitted all accounts of 2.5 million rupees to the sitting secretary, Asif Bajwa, but the PHF President also needs to probe into how hockey tours are being used to send people to Europe," he said.