Body wife of Junaid Jamshed’s Neha Junaid< Neha Rehman Zia > former administrator Pakistan Football Federation handed over to her relatives after identification
By. Asghar Ali Mubarak
Rawalpindi–The body of the former Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) women’s wing administrator and Junaid Jamshed’s wife Neha Junaid< Neha Rehman Zia > has been handed over to her relatives after identification today (Wednesday).Neha Junaid’s body is being shifted from District Headquarters (DHQ) Hospital to Lahore in an ambulance. Junaid Jamshed’s deceased wife was former PFF women’s wing head by Natasha Raheel.Neha Zia, the former Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) women’s wing administrator and Junaid Jamshed’s wife, was one of the 48 passengers who died in last week’s plane crash of PIA’s flight PK661.Her sports administration background was largely overlooked in the aftermath of the December 7 plane crash as she had changed her name following her marriage with singer-turned-evangelist Junaid. Between 2010 and 2012, Neha played an active role in developing women’s football in Pakistan and is remembered as a consummate professional by her PFF colleagues. She also earned her Licence D coaching course while serving the federation. Neha Jamshed (then Neha Rehman Zia) with participants of PFF Women D-Certificate Coaching Course participants in April 2012 “Neha was a crucial part of our team during her time here. She was a great asset for us — a thoroughly professional and educated administrator. I still remember we tried to stop her from quitting the job,” recalled PFF secretary Ahmed Yar Khan Lodhi.
“Her responsibilities included assisting in organising women’s tournaments and also keeping check of the funds that are allotted to the PFF for women’s football each year. We were shocked to find out that she was among the victims.”
Meanwhile, the remains of more than 20 victims of the the PK-661 plane crash near Havelian were transported to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) in Islamabad for DNA testing. The remains of the victims will be handed over to their surviving relatives after identification.The aircraft belonging to Pakistan International Airlines, a state-owned carrier with a spotty safety record was en route from the border town of Chitral to Islamabad, the capital, but lost contact with air traffic controllers about 20 minutes before it was due to land at 4:40 p.m.
The plane was carrying 42 passengers, five crew members and a ground engineer, airline officials said. Pakistan’s Civil Aviation Authority confirmed that there were no survivors.
Among those on board was Junaid Jamshed, one of Pakistan’s leading recording artists and fashion designers, who two decades ago became an Islamic preacher. He and his wife had traveled to Chitral, where he had given religious lectures. Lodhi continued, “It is hard to believe that she is not among us anymore as she was barely 30 years old. We encourage our officials to learn more about football and she did a coaching course even though she wasn’t a footballer.
Meanwhile, Sadia Sheikh — who recently became the first Asian Football Confederation (AFC) certified women’s match commissioner from Pakistan — paid tribute to the professionalism with which Neha managed the women’s wing.
“There is a dearth of educated people in most of the federations in Pakistan,” said Sadia. “She also played a key role in organising the national championship before quitting. We really needed people like her.”
Qibtia Jamshaid, Neha’s successor at the PFF, also pointed out that Neha helped her learn about football management.
“I remember her ability to learn about football in such short time,” said Qibtia. “Her internal drive to improve footballers’ condition was pretty evident.”
