MNA Shehla Raza challenges PHF ad-hoc president over controversial Congress meeting
MNA Shehla Raza challenges PHF ad-hoc president over controversial Congress meeting
By Nawaz Gohar ; Muhyuddin Wani, the Ad-hoc President of the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) and Secretary of the Ministry of Inter-Provincial Coordination (IPC), is facing intense criticism. Within just one month of taking charge, it is alleged that he has fallen under the influence of the same corrupt elements that previously plagued the federation.
For the first time in history, the PHF has been divided into administrative and hockey-related wings. Critics argue that Wani is acting on flawed advice from biased consultants. Syeda Shehla Raza, Member of the National Assembly (MNA) and member of the Standing Committee on IPC, has expressed serious reservations regarding Wani’s decision to convene a controversial PHF Congress meeting on March 27.
In a letter addressed to the Prime Minister, Shehla Raza appealed for immediate intervention. She noted that per the Prime Minister’s notification, Wani’s mandate is strictly to conduct free and fair elections—similar to the task assigned to former president Tariq Mussori Bugti—and to handle day-to-day affairs until a permanent setup is elected.
The letter asserts that calling a meeting of a “disputed” Congress violates the Prime Minister’s mandate and obstructs the electoral process. It highlights that the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) had already initiated an election process during Tariq Bugti’s tenure, which remains legally valid. Furthermore, the IPC Ministry and PSB never recognized the 2022 PHF elections, meaning no legitimate elections have occurred since the 2018–2022 term ended.
A key legal point raised is that 50% of the members of the Congress Wani is summoning were technically “debarred” under the PHF constitution following a failed no-confidence motion against former Secretary General Haider Hussain. Subsequently, former President Tariq Bugti and “illegal” Secretary General Rana Mujahid allegedly handpicked favorites to fill these slots.
The letter claims the goal of this meeting is to provide “legal cover” to a corrupt group facing 113 audit paragraphs from the Auditor General of Pakistan and to protect parallel sports associations created for personal gain. Shehla Raza urged that Wani should have involved the FIA to investigate the looting of federation funds instead of attempting to “validate” these individuals.
Legal experts have weighed in, stating that once an election process begins (as it did under the PSB notification), the existing Congress is effectively dissolved to ensure transparency.
They warn that since 50% of the members were debarred during Brig. (R) Khalid Sajjad Khokhar’s era, a legitimate Congress currently does not exist and can only be formed through fresh elections.
