Pakistan’s sports activities authorities have banned for 10 years hockey participant Rashid-ul-Hasan, a member of the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics gold medal profitable staff, for allegedly utilizing offensive language in opposition to Prime Minister Imran Khan, a media report stated on Friday.
Rashid, 62, whereas categorically denying the allegations of utilizing offensive language, is contemplating the choice to problem the ban within the court docket of legislation, the Dawn newspaper reported.
He was banned by the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) on Thursday for 10 years after he criticised Prime Minister Khan — who can also be PHF patron-in-chief — on a social media platform over the decline of the game within the nation, it stated.
Expressing his shock over the ban, Rashid stated that at the moment he was not even holding any place within the federation.
The transfer is predicted to lift voices in help of freedom of expression.
A PHF inquiry committee was constituted to see if Rashid had used abusive language in opposition to Khan.
The directions got by the PHF president Brig. (retd.) Khalid Sajjad Khokhar and secretary Asif Bajwa, in line with an announcement.
After Rashid didn’t reply to 2 notices, the committee on PHF president’s directions imposed the 10-year ban. The copy of the notification has additionally been despatched to the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Sports.
Speaking on the matter, Rashid dispelled the impression of abusive language he was alleged to have used in opposition to the prime minister on any social media discussion board.
“On social media or any other public media, I have always given (due) respect to the prime minister,” Rashid instructed the Dawn newspaper.
“On a WhatsApp group I only said that on the container though Imran Khan was claiming that he would put the game of hockey on the right track, nothing came on the surface during the last three years. And I also said Imran will not do any good work for hockey,” the Olympian remarked whereas giving his clarification.
As a citizen of the nation, Rashid stated, he had the suitable to talk, however “I didn’t use any abusive language”.
According to Rashid, he acquired the primary discover from the PHF some 5 months in the past, including “it didn’t carry any solid material, that’s why I did not consider it serious”.
“The second explanation notice I received some 45 days ago. I wrote a short reply to the PHF refusing to accept the allegations as I did not use any abusive language against the prime minister,” he stated.
Meanwhile, the PHF requested the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) to challenge letters to the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority and different related establishments to take additional steps for implementing the ban on Rashid, the report added.
