Pak swimmer to face court martial
ISLAMABAD: A Pakistani swimmer who defected in Britain faces court martial and a fine if he returns home, officials said on Wednesday as the country’s Commonwealth Games team arrived back.
“We are waiting for the official report and as soon as we receive it we will definitely take action against swimmer Abid Hussain who defected in the United Kingdom and has not returned,” Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) Director Brigadier Saulat Abbas said.
Hussain, a 24-year-old member of the Pakistan army, disappeared from the Games’ village on July 22 two days after the Pakistan team arrived. Since he was their only male swimmer, Pakistan had to opt out of the event. The parents or sports associations of all the athletes in the 76-member contingent had to sign an indemnity bond of one million rupees (US$16,500) to ensure no one defected.
“Hussain’s parents are old and poor but they signed the bond on his behalf and we are bound to take legal action against him,” Abbas said. Pakistan returned with one boxing gold medal, three silvers in weightlifting, two bronze in shooting and one in hockey. At the 1998 Games in Malaysia they only won one silver.
“There is no way this matter can be brushed aside, Hussain belongs to the Pakistan army and they can court martial him if he returns,” Abbas said. Five athletes from Bangladesh, one Kenyan and numerous Nigerian athletes defected during the Games held in Manchester from July 25-August 4.
http://www.jang.com.pk/thenews/aug2002-daily/08-08-2002/sports/s12.htm