KARACHI: A top Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) official on Thursday promised to host an international tournament involving top teams in 2009 in memory of former premier Benazir Bhutto, who was assassinated last year.

Asif Bajwa, the new PHF secretary, said at a press conference here that all out efforts would be made for the successful hosting of a six-nation Benazir Bhutto hockey tournament, involving some of the leading teams of the world.

He gave that assurance to Sports Minister Najmuddin Khan, who belongs to the ruling Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) — that was headed by the late Benazir Bhutto. The two had a meeting here at the Hockey Club of Pakistan Stadium to discuss issues related to the promotion of Pakistan hockey.

The minister was perturbed by the fact that none of the numerous hockey-related photographs hanging at the HCP had Benazir in it. “Our great leader did so much for hockey but I was surprised to see that the Stadium doesn’t have any of her photographs,” said Khan.

Bajwa promised to place BB’s photos at all the major hockey facilities of the country and went a step further by assuring that the inaugural edition of the Benazir Bhutto tournament will be held in a befitting manner.

“We will host a major six-nation tournament in the mid of 2009 as a tribute for Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto,” said Bajwa, a former Pakistan player and national coach.

Pakistan have not hosted any major international hockey competition since the 2004 Champions Trophy in Lahore as most of the major teams including Olympic champions Australia have refused to come here citing security reasons. In fact, the 2007 Champions Trophy was relocated from Lahore and was held in Kuala Lumpur after several teams refused to visit Pakistan.

A PHF effort to host an Olympic warm-up tournament in July fell apart because of lack of interest shown by foreign teams.