KARACHI: Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani Monday ordered an inquiry into a Commonwealth Games opening ceremony scuffle in which a top official snatched his country's flag from a national sports hero. Angry Pakistan weightlifters threatened to walk out on the Games after chef de mission Mohammad Ali Shah insisted on carrying the flag to lead the team parade instead of celebrated former gold medal weightlifter Shuja-ud-Din 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 Malik's right and it was decided before the Games that Malik would carry the flag in the opening ceremony,” said Mehmood 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 Shah carrying the flag and we considered a boycott but decided against it.” 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 that's 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.” Reports here said Pakistan Olympic Association President Arif Hasan had intervened to avoid a boycott by the weightlifting team. – Agence France
