‘Contempt of court case to be filed against CDA for ransacking tennis complex’

Islamabad: Pakistan People's Party (PPP) Secretary General Taj Haider, who is also the Chief Executive of the Benazir Bhutto International/National Tennis, announced that he will file a contempt case against the Capital Development Authority (CDA). 

The CDA ransacked the Islamabad Tennis Complex (ITC) despite the stay-order that was already sought from the court.

Addressing a press conference at the People's Secretariat Islamabad, Taj Haider, accompanied by PPP leader Syed Sibte Bokhari, said that the place was one of the most active tennis venues in the country. He further added, “We have decided to file a contempt case against CDA for not only defying the court's stay order but also ransacking the venue without any prior notice and in possession of a legal agreement document.”

Sibte Bokhari, Kamran Khalil, Chief Executive of the Complex, also spoke on the occasion. Complex legal councillor Khurram Baig shared a copy of the MoU between Tennis Complex Organisers and the Interior Ministry confirming the lease status till 2035.

“Two years back, the Interior Ministry extended the lease of the Complex in favour of Kamran Khalil till 2035. The ransacking of the Complex is also a clear violation of the lease agreement reached between the two parties.”

Senator Taj Haider said during the last ten years, he has convinced the Sindh Government to release a grant for the Benazir Bhutto Tennis. He mentioned that they organized Benazir Bhutto national and international events with utmost success, with highly ranked international players also participating in pre-COVID-19 international events. The venue served as a place where budding players were trained for national and international events. When they started establishing the venue, it was a deserted place with bushes and raw grass all around. The Complex organizers established and invested in the venue only because they reached an agreement with the Interior Ministry.

Senator Taj Haider also mentioned the recent sacking of Shoaib Khoso as Director General of Pakistan Sports Board. He was from Sindh, and that was the reason for his removal. “I have brought all these developments to the Chairman's notice.”

Sibte Bokhari called on the National Tennis Federation and the National Olympic Committee to intervene and save this place that was facilitating budding players. Kamran Khalil said that all these years, the Complex authorities never received any complaint from CDA or MCI. “Even their officers play here and use the facility without any fee. The destruction of the Complex deprives up-and-coming tennis players of a place where they can train and prepare themselves for international events.”