PESHAWAR - Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Olympic Association (KPOA) president Senator Haji Ghulam Ali Monday alleged that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)-led Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has done nothing for the promotion of sports in the province, if it was compared to other provinces especially Punjab where a number of sports events, festivals and tournaments of different games have either in progress or concluded in last six months.
The PTI had made several tall claims regarding bringing a resolution in sports, unfortunately, it has done nothing on ground. “No mega sports event has so far been organized by the PTI-led provincial government in the province,” he said this while speaking at ‘Meet the Press’ programme at Peshawar Press Club held under the auspices of KPK Sports Writers Association.
Senator Ghulam Ali alleged that even the KPK government did not know about the cabinet members of the provincial Olympic Association, which was regrettable. “How could we expect that the PTI government will work too much for sports in future, if its performance is zero in last six-month,” he added. He went on to say that like destroying each and every sector in the province, the KPK incumbent government has put sports at the verge of collapse.
The JUI-F’s Senator Ghulam Ali said that as per the verdict of Peshawar High Court, free and fair elections of the KPK Olympic Association have been held. He said that KPK Olympic Association has been rid of mafia group, saying constitution of the association would be followed; no decision would be made on the basis of personal like and dislike.
He was of the view that constitution of the association has never been followed, if it had been, there would have no crisis that existed today. In the past, everything has been dealt in a wrong way. “I am here to ensure transparency.”
The only reason behind zero performance in sports is that this field has been ignored totally, besides making it more politicking, he said asking government to work for promoting sports, which according to him could play a positive role in creating tolerance and making society.
He said that government should come forward, facilitate players and provide them better facilities so that to explore their talent and ultimately earn a good name for Pakistan in the sports filed. Ghulam Ali said that sport was on decline in the country and it has different reasons but the most one is the presence of various sports associations. “Establishing rival associations have badly affected sports activities rather than promoting it,” he concluded.