ISLAMABAD - Former world squash champion Qamar Zaman was given a real rough treatment by POA president Lt Gen (r) Syed Arif Hasan for supporting Maj Gen (r) M Akram Sahi.
Talking to The Nation on Wednesday, Qamar said: “I was named as manager of the Pakistan squash team for Asian Games by Pakistan Squash Federation (PSF), but due to my affiliation and support to Gen Sahi, the POA chief on the advice of Aqil Shah excluded my name from the Asian Games-bound squad. It is quite unfair and very humiliating rendered to a person, who had given his entire life to Pakistan and won a number of titles at international level.”
“First of all, it is everyone's right to support a person or association of his liking, secondly, I was not representing Gen Arif or Gen Sahi in the Asian Games, I was appointed by the PSF for the very important role, which I fully deserve keeping in mind my services for the country,” he added.
“It will be very tough conditions for Pakistan in the Asian Games, as every country will try to put extra pressure on them as they are fully aware what kind of threat our players poses. A person like me and Jamshed Gul will be very hard to handle for all our opponents. I have never demanded any role from the PSF but they themselves gave me this responsibility just in the interest of the country in general and squash in particular.” He urged Prime Minister Mian Nawaz Sharif and IPC minister Mian Riaz Hussain Pirzada to take serious notice of the situation and provide him justice.