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KARACHI: Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on Monday ordered an inquiry into a Commonwealth Games opening ceremony scuffle in which a top official snatched his countrys flag from a national sports hero.
Angry Pakistan weightlifters threatened to walk out on the Games after chef de mission Dr Mohammad Ali Shah insisted on carrying the flag to lead the team parade instead of celebrated former gold medal weightlifter Shujauddin Malik.
Gilani has taken serious notice of the unpleasant incident among the contingent at the opening ceremony, his office said.
He has asked the Federal Minister for Sports to inquire into the incident and submit a report to him urgently, it added, making clear that action would be taken against those found responsible.
Pakistan weightlifting manager Rashid Mehmood said the team had considered a boycott in protest at the humiliation suffered by Malik, a gold medalist at last Games in Melbourne four years ago.
It was a shameful act because holding the flag was Maliks right and it was decided before the Games that Malik would carry the flag in the opening ceremony, said Rashid of an incident witnessed by 60,000 people inside the stadium and a worldwide television audience of millions.
It was an embarrassment for Pakistanis all around the world as television showed the name of Malik on the telecast under a picture of Dr Shah carrying the flag and we considered a boycott but decided against it.
Rashid disclosed that Malik, who will compete in the 94K category on Oct. 9, had been confirmed as the flag bearer one month ago when the teams were finalized. It was the decision which was taken by all the concerned authorities and Dr. Shah should have known this, Mehmood said.
He, however, said that his team will now concentrate on the competition, but will keep Dr Shah at a distance. We have decided to compete just because we are representing our country in a big event, he said. But from now on we will stay away from our chef-de-mission.
Earlier, the the late night reports here said Pakistan Olympic Association President Arif Hasan had intervened to avoid a boycott by the weightlifting team.
The team registered a strong protest with Arif and asked why they should compete in New Delhi. He has assured me that a tough action will be taken against the chef-de-mission, Rashid said.
Meanwhile Aqil Shah, vice-president of the Pakistan Olympic Association, added: I was shocked to see the chef de mission holding the flag. Holding the national flag is always the prerogative of an athlete and thats decided before the ceremony.
I was the chef de mission of the Pakistan delegation on various occasions and never tried to hold the flag in the opening ceremony, because it is the right of the athlete. This controversy should have been avoided.
Pakistan weightlifters are scheduled to compete in six categories, with Abdullah Ghafoor lined up for 56-kilogram category.Agencies
Our Islamabad Correspondent adds: The Federal Sports Ministry said on Monday that a row between Pakistans chef de mission and a weightlifter over carrying the national flag at the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games had been settled but a report on the incident would be submitted to Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani.
We dont know why this occurred all of a sudden. It should not have happened but I am also traveling to New Delhi and will look into it, Sports Secretary Aziz Bilour told Dawn.
He insisted that the matter had been settled, but said the ministry would investigate it. We have not received written orders from the office of the prime minister, however, a report will be presented to the competent authorities, if desired, he said.
The Pakistan Olympic Associations chief Syed Arif Hasan was also quoted by media channels as saying that the matter had been resolved, but a hearing would be held.
Angry Pakistan weightlifters threatened to walk out on the Games after chef de mission Dr Mohammad Ali Shah insisted on carrying the flag to lead the team parade instead of celebrated former gold medal weightlifter Shujauddin Malik.
Gilani has taken serious notice of the unpleasant incident among the contingent at the opening ceremony, his office said.
He has asked the Federal Minister for Sports to inquire into the incident and submit a report to him urgently, it added, making clear that action would be taken against those found responsible.
Pakistan weightlifting manager Rashid Mehmood said the team had considered a boycott in protest at the humiliation suffered by Malik, a gold medalist at last Games in Melbourne four years ago.
It was a shameful act because holding the flag was Maliks right and it was decided before the Games that Malik would carry the flag in the opening ceremony, said Rashid of an incident witnessed by 60,000 people inside the stadium and a worldwide television audience of millions.
It was an embarrassment for Pakistanis all around the world as television showed the name of Malik on the telecast under a picture of Dr Shah carrying the flag and we considered a boycott but decided against it.
Rashid disclosed that Malik, who will compete in the 94K category on Oct. 9, had been confirmed as the flag bearer one month ago when the teams were finalized. It was the decision which was taken by all the concerned authorities and Dr. Shah should have known this, Mehmood said.
He, however, said that his team will now concentrate on the competition, but will keep Dr Shah at a distance. We have decided to compete just because we are representing our country in a big event, he said. But from now on we will stay away from our chef-de-mission.
Earlier, the the late night reports here said Pakistan Olympic Association President Arif Hasan had intervened to avoid a boycott by the weightlifting team.
The team registered a strong protest with Arif and asked why they should compete in New Delhi. He has assured me that a tough action will be taken against the chef-de-mission, Rashid said.
Meanwhile Aqil Shah, vice-president of the Pakistan Olympic Association, added: I was shocked to see the chef de mission holding the flag. Holding the national flag is always the prerogative of an athlete and thats decided before the ceremony.
I was the chef de mission of the Pakistan delegation on various occasions and never tried to hold the flag in the opening ceremony, because it is the right of the athlete. This controversy should have been avoided.
Pakistan weightlifters are scheduled to compete in six categories, with Abdullah Ghafoor lined up for 56-kilogram category.Agencies
Our Islamabad Correspondent adds: The Federal Sports Ministry said on Monday that a row between Pakistans chef de mission and a weightlifter over carrying the national flag at the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games had been settled but a report on the incident would be submitted to Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani.
We dont know why this occurred all of a sudden. It should not have happened but I am also traveling to New Delhi and will look into it, Sports Secretary Aziz Bilour told Dawn.
He insisted that the matter had been settled, but said the ministry would investigate it. We have not received written orders from the office of the prime minister, however, a report will be presented to the competent authorities, if desired, he said.
The Pakistan Olympic Associations chief Syed Arif Hasan was also quoted by media channels as saying that the matter had been resolved, but a hearing would be held.
