Imran abused DC for what PTI govt implemented in KP

ISLAMABAD: The Sheikhupura deputy commissioner has been abusively addressed in a public meeting on Sunday by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan for doing what the PTI government has already implemented in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) during April last year. In his speech in a public meeting in Sheikhupura last night, Imran Khan, while addressing the deputy commissioner of the district, complained that the latter did not allow the PTI to hold its public meeting in the city’s cricket stadium and remarked, “Deputy Commissioner Sheikhupura! Is Shahbaz Sharif your father.” Imran Khan was though furious over the DC for not allocating the sporting ground for his public meeting and used indecent language against the civil servant, the PTI chief forgot what his party’s own government has implemented in the province.

On April 18, 2016, the KP government issued a direction to all divisional commissioners and administrative secretaries for ban on use of play grounds for private/ official functions.

Offended by the PTI chief’s remarks, a group of young and mid-career administrative service (ex-DMG) officers Monday shared in their WhatsApp group copy of the KP government official direction.

The direction issued by Tourism, Sports, Archaeology, Museums & Youth Affairs Department of the KP government clearly said that no playing facility and group will be used by any private or official organisations for any use other than sporting activities.

Addressed to “All Administrative Secretaries” and “All Divisional Commissioners” of the province, the official letter’s subject was “BAN ON USE OF PLAY GROUNDS FOR PRIVATE/ OFFICIAL FUNCTIONS”.

The operative part of the KPK government’s official communication No SO (Sports) 2-8/2008/Vol.III reads as:

“Dear sir,

The Provincial Government particularly in Sports Department has epical emphasis on promotion of sports especially amongst the Youth, so as to involve them into healthy/ recreational activities. For the purpose a number of new sport facilities/ grounds are being established at all Tehsils of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

“However, it has been observed with great concern that sports facilities across the province are being used for private/ official functions. Thus involving activities other than sports which is against the spirit of Sports Promotion.

“Keeping in view the above, I am directed to convey the orders of the competent authority that henceforth, no ground/ playing facility shall be allowed to any private or official organization for any use other than sporting activities. Its alternate use will, however, be subject to the prior permission of the Department of Sports & Youth Affairs.”

The above mentioned letter and its operative part reflects the PTI government’s policy for the KP, and this is precisely what the Sheikhupura DC did but in return got insulting remarks from PTI chief Imran Khan.

Following IK’s insulting remarks against the deputy commission, the Punjab government tweeted, “Sheikhupura Stadium has hosted an International Test match in which Wasim Akram scored a record of 257 runs against Zimbabwe. Govt of Punjab has renovated this stadium. Who would know better than Imran Khan (former cricketer himself) that stadiums are meant for Sports no Jalsas!”