Peeved Multan clubs ask PM to disallow politicking in sports grounds

Leaders of 25 clubs, sportsmen criticise holding political rallies in sports grounds, calling it ‘misuse’ of space.

MULTAN: Multan’s sports clubs have asked the prime minister to ban the use of sports grounds for political shows.

In a meeting of 25 clubs on Monday, club leaders and sportsmen criticised the organisation of political processions and gatherings in sports grounds, calling it ‘misuse’ of space.

These political processions are affecting sports activities, Munir Akhtar Langah, who presided over the meeting, told The Express Tribune. “I am requesting the prime minister because in the past four years, most political shows have been organised by the prime minister himself, which has encouraged other political parties to use these grounds too.”

Millions of rupees are spent on repairing these grounds after political processions, said Sohail Khan, secretary general of the Multan Cricket Association. “Participants only spread filth and destroy the grounds. We will now disallow any political gatherings in sports grounds.”

Rehabilitating the grounds is very difficult and costly, said Shahid Lodhi, president of the Sports Promotion Alliance. “We will block roads and players will participate in protests and hunger strike campaigns across the city.”

Punjab chief minister must take notice of the situation, said Gull Khan, president of the Gull Sports Welfare Club. “He should instruct district officials to disallow the use of sports grounds for such events because no political party is keen on repairing and renovating these grounds.”

“We can live without politics but not without sports,” Asghar Sial, president of Tariq Sports Club, told The Express Tribune.