Olympic Gold-Medallist Banned For Criticising PM Imran Khan

Lahore: Olympic hockey gold medal-winner Rashid-ul-Hasan has been banned by Pakistan Hockey Federation for 10 years for allegedly using offensive language against Prime Minister Imran Khan.

Rashid had criticised Imran, who is PHF patron-in-chief, on a social media platform over the decline of hockey in the country, the Dawn newspaper reported on Friday.

The 62-year-old Rashid, a member of the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics gold medal-winning Pakistan team, denied the allegations of using offensive language and is exploring legal options.

Though Rashid doesn’t hold any position in PHF currently, the ban is a blot on his image and future activities in hockey.

PHF had set up an inquiry committee to study if Rashid had used abusive language against the PM.

With Rashid not responding to two notices, the PHF imposed a 10-year ban on him.

“On social media or any other public media, I have always given (due) respect to the prime minister,” Rashid told the Dawn.

“In a WhatsApp group, I only said that though Imran Khan was claiming he would put the game of hockey on the right track, nothing came on the surface during the last three years. I also said Imran will not do any good work for hockey,” the Olympic winner was quoted as saying.

Rashid claimed that as a citizen of the country, he had the right to speak. “But I didn’t use any abusive language”.

On the notices issued to him by PHF, Rashid said the first one didn’t have any solid matter, so he didn’t consider it to be serious.

As for the second explanation notice, he claimed he wrote a short reply, refusing to accept the allegations.