Dr Mohammad Ali Shah was branded a “clown” by his country’s press after his highly-controversial last-minute decision to snatch the flag from weightlifting star Shuja-Ud-Din Malik, which enraged the athletes.

Malik, who won gold at the Melbourne 2006 Games, had been announced as the official bearer and was ready to hold the national flag just minutes before the team walked out in front of 60,000 spectators at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium.

However, in a bizarre move, the Sports Minister snatched the flag from a bemused and horror-struck Malik allegedly saying "it was Chef de Mission’s right to lead the contingent".

But Shah had not been named as the official flag carrier, and on television screens around the world the name Shuja-Ud-Din Malik appeared under the picture of Shah carrying the flag.

Pakistan weightlifting team manager Rashid Mehmood said: "People back home must have noticed this as they know very well it was not Malik but our Provincial Sports Minister marching with the flag."

The team then threatened to pull out of the Games unless they receive an apology.

But boycott was averted when Pakistan Olympic Association chief Arif Hasan warned them they would be sanctioned if they took such action.

Mehmood said: “He [Hasan] has assured me tough action will be taken against the Chef de Mission.”

Malik (pictured), who will compete in the 94-kg category on October 9, had been confirmed as the flag bearer a month ago when the Pakistan team was finalised.

He said: "The decision was taken by all the concerned authorities and Dr Shah should have known this.

"We have decided to compete just because we are representing our country in a big event, but from now on we will stay away from our Chef de Mission."

Pakistani newspapers had labelled the scene a "humiliation putting national pride and honour in jeopardy" with the Lahore-based Pakistani Mail saying the Sports Minister was "waving to the camera like a clown".

Pakistan weightlifters are scheduled to compete in six categories at the Commonwealth Games, including today where Abdullah Ghafoor will contest the men’s 56kg final.

The embarrassing episode was another scandal Pakistan could do without following recent match-fixing allegations involving high profile members of the country’s cricket team.

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