Ex PHF president arrested for alleged fraud

LAHORE: Qasim Zia, former Olympian and ex-president of the Pakistan Hockey Federation, has been arrested in a fraud case.

The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Saturday arrested Zia in a Rs80 million fraud case which he allegedly committed being a director of a stock exchange security company.

Zia who is also a senior leader of Pakistan People’s Party was arrested in early hours of Saturday from his Lahore residence and produced before an Accountability Court that granted his 10 days remand in the NAB custody.

The NAB has also arrested another director of the company – Ali Usman Securities – Usman Saeed, and is raiding for the arrest of other co-accused.

“The accused have been apprehended on allegations of cheating public at large, misappropriation, embezzlement of funds and criminal breach of trust.

The accused, along with other directors, fraudulently deprived general public of their hard earned money.

“More than 80 affected filed their complaints with NAB Lahore against Qasim Zia,” a NAB spokesman said.

An Olympic gold medalist in hockey Zia was a member of the Pakistan’s national hockey team from 1980 to 1987.

He became president of Pakistan Hockey Federation in 2008 and served it till 2013. Zia also remained member Punjab Assembly twice (2002-2007 and from 2008-2013).

He functioned as opposition leader in the Punjab Assembly during his earlier term from 2002-2007.