Despite the tall claims by the Capital Development Authority (CDA) that it is promoting sports activities in the federal capital, the poor condition of the only cricket ground in Sector-F/8 simply belies that claims. And the irony does not end here as Pakistan Today has learnt some local lawyers there also trying to occupy the ground in order to build their offices there.
A CDA official told Pakistan Today on Tuesday that some lawyers wanted to establish their chambers at the said playground illegally.
Besides those lawyers, he said, some football players were also trying to occupy the place and turn it exclusively into a football field. “The reality is that this has always been a cricket ground and it was build by the CDA several years ago,” said Fahad Amjad, a local cricketer while talking to Pakistan Today. He said some local football players put some banners on the walls of the ground saying they had the ‘real’ right to play in the ground. “You can ask any old resident whether this ground was meant for cricket or for football,” said Husnain, another local cricketer. The cricket ground, located near the district courts, is considered as the biggest ground in the sector.
Now instead of grass one can see litter scattered everywhere, jogging track has been shrubs. “We have no other place to take a morning walk,” said Qaisar Khan, a resident of F/8, adding that CDA should renovate the ground immediately. However, some local sports analysts are of the view that it has become a tradition with the authorities including CDA to make false promises just to stay in news. They said even Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani had made a ‘historic’ announcement, several months ago, saying that the fight against the forces of terrorism would be fought by promotion of sports in the country. They recalled that the PM also claimed that the PPP-led government had been paying special attention towards promotion of sports with an aim to create a healthy society and project country’s true and soft image. They said the PM also raised a slogan, “From the battlefield to sports fields”.
It was, however, regretful that instead of following the PM’s instructions, the CDA was neglecting them, the added.
Interestingly, a large number of garbage pickers have also made this ground a dump place for their trash. “I have been visiting coming to this ground since long to sell my garbage,” said Jamil Gul a garbage picker. He admitted the condition of the ground had been deteriorating for the last two years.
CDA spokesman Ramzan Sajid, when contacted, said; “I am totally unaware about the situation of the said ground so it is not possible for me to tell whether some lawyers realy want to occupy the place or not.”
Whether it is a cricket ground or a football ground, yet one thing is clear that the F/8 ground always meant for sports and not for lawyers’ offices or garbage dumping site. The CDA should play its role in this regard so that the locals continue to take part in sports activities there.
