Open Gymkhana to public, says PA speaker

LAHORE:Punjab Assembly members across the divide have expressed serious dismay over the nominal lease amounts charged from gymkhanas in the province including Lahore Gymkhana Club.

Refusing to accept the membership of Lahore Gymkhana, Punjab Assembly Speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan announced forming a special committee to look into the matters related to gymkhana clubs.

‘How the state land could be given on lease on such lower rates, said the speaker while responding to an answer given by Minister Mian Mujtaba Shujaur Rehman. The speaker stated that the Lahore Gymkhana administration was charging millions from the members whereas only Rs5,000 were paid in term of the lease annually.

The speaker asserted that the members of the House would not become the members of Lahore Gymkhana, adding no member needs its membership. Things could not be run as per the choice of the ruling elite, said Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan while seeking a report of the committee formed to probe details behind lease and facilities given to the gymkhana clubs.

Chenab Club of Faisalabad related matters would also be looked on by the committee, said the speaker. Amjad Ali Javaid, the ruling party MPA, while speaking on this issue said gymkhanas were set up on the state land worth billions of rupees.

He said if the ruling elite had to find something for their recreation and entertainment, it must do it at its own cost, not at the cost of public money. 'Collect billions of rupees from the ruling elite that is due upon it for last 75 years', asked Amjed Ali Javaid.

The speaker on the occasion asked Minister Mian Mujtaba Shujaur Rehman, who is also the nephew of former Lahore Gymkhana President Mian Misbah-ur-Rehman, to explain the position of government over it.

Mian Mujtaba Shujaur Rehman on the occasion told the House that in the year 1913, Lahore Gymkhana Club was given on a lease of Rs1,600. The speaker on the occasion stated under these circumstances, even the pre-partition amount had to be received from the Lahore Gymkhana.

During the question hour session, the speaker expressed serious anger over the politicisation of sports. He said he himself knew a senator and an MNA who were heading sports bodies.

He said it was unfortunate that no government had taken concrete measures for the promotion of sports. He said, “We earned respect due to Arshad Nadeem in Paris Olympics, otherwise, the situation was miserable.”