The Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) has formally started the examination of hockey clubs to ensure that the upcoming elections of the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) are held in a transparent, credible, and constitutional manner.
A PSB spokesperson said the scrutiny process is being carried out under a PSB-approved, jointly agreed mechanism. The process will be implemented by the PHF but will remain under full PSB supervision.
“The scrutiny of hockey clubs has formally begun under the umbrella of the Pakistan Sports Board. This is a transparent, uniform, and rule-based process being carried out jointly with the Pakistan Hockey Federation to ensure fair and credible elections,” the spokesperson said.
According to the PSB, all hockey clubs seeking eligibility to participate in the PHF electoral process, whether existing or newly formed, will be examined strictly according to approved criteria.
To oversee the process, a Joint National Committee for Scrutiny of Clubs has been formed. The committee includes representatives from both the PSB and the PHF.
The spokesperson said that club information is being collected through an online portal, while the PSB has been given full supervisory and audit access to monitor every stage of the process.
The scrutiny will be mainly document-based. Clubs will be given a one-time opportunity to rectify any deficiencies, if required. After the process is completed, provisional and final lists of eligible clubs will be published.
A formal objection and adjudication mechanism has also been established. Affected clubs will be permitted to file objections within a specified timeframe. Appeals will first be reviewed by the PHF, and final decisions will be made by a PSB-designated adjudicator. These decisions will be final for election purposes.
In addition, the PSB will conduct random physical verification of selected clubs to confirm their physical existence and declared home grounds. The spokesperson described this step as crucial for strengthening the credibility of the scrutiny process.
The spokesperson also warned that any scrutiny or electoral process carried out outside the jointly approved framework will not be recognized.
