Respect the game, respect the players: Mahira Khan voices support for women's football

On Saturday, the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) headquarters was attacked in Lahore, leading the FIFA-appointed Normalisation Committee (NC) to be physically harmed and their possessions taken away. As a result, the ongoing Women’s Championship taking place in Karachi was cancelled by the committee.

Following this, the Karachi United also pulled out of the National Women's Football Championship which is now being organised without the PFF committee.

While many sports fanatics expressed their concerns over the future of football in Pakistan, Yumna Zaidi raised her voice for women. Following this, Mahira Khan also lent her support to the female footballers of Pakistan.

Sharing a video of Hajra Khan on her Instagram stories, Mahira wrote: “Respect the game!!! Respect the players!!” She also shared a press release posted by Hajra, the title of which read, “We too are responsible for upholding the integrity of the game as it is challenged by politicised governance.”

In reference to the matter, Federal Minister for Inter Provincial Coordination Fehmida Mirza tweeted, “Had several meetings with the federation and NC. Even wrote to FIFA to send fact-finding mission and to hold elections as delay is badly affecting football in Pakistan #SavePakistanFootball.”

Football aficionados appreciated Mirza for speaking in favour of saving the platform for many. Captain of the women’s football team Hajra Khan had also penned on Twitter, “Today, we stand our ground and we stand it together! #NoMoreSilence.”

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