- Guinness record holder player fails to shake conscience of politicians“Suicide is perhaps a better option,” said jobless Farhan Ayub, who holds two Guinness World Records (GWR) in martial arts and has been protesting ‘peacefully and silently’ all alone outside the Punjab Assembly for the past 19 days.
Severely depressed being unable to foresee a career, Farhan Ayub’s protest on Charing Cross even during the Eid holidays failed to make an impact and shake the collective conscience of politicians in Punjab. A poster he holds in his left hand during the protest reads, “Appeal to politicians. I want to study from the last five years but I have no fee.” He also carries a certificate from GWR in his right hand which reads, “The most number of kip-ups (break dance) in one minute is 25, achieved by Farhan Ayub of Pakistan, in Lahore on March 15, 2017.”
“No politician came to see my protest camp just outside the premises of Punjab Assembly. On the first day of Eidul Azha when I was at Charing Cross, Lahore’s Mayor Colonel (r) Mubasher Javed who had come to review the arrangements of Lahore Waste Management Company (LWMC) met me by chance and assured me to help resolve my problems. “All I got was sympathy but no practical help.”
According to Farhan, the officials from deputy commissioner’s office arranged a meeting between Farhan and Provincial Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs Jahangir Khanzada. The meeting was also attended by Director General Punjab Sports Board (PSB) and other high-ranked officials. They also assured him that his issue would be resolved provided he ends protest but to no avail.
“A top government official Abubakar Sheikh took me to 80-C Model Town –the Chief Minister’s House where I was asked to write an application for a reward from Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif on August 27.But to date, the official only says that Farhan’s application is in progress and nothing practical has been done.
“I have heard that politicians only make promises but now I have practically seen it. Many fake NGOs have tried to collect resources for me and people from abroad are contacting me and offering assistance but I have refused as I only want reward from politicians particularly Shehbaz Sharif,” he added.
The 24-year-old martial arts player said he has placed two demands before the politicians, particularly Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif. Firstly, he should be given Rs 300,000 to 400,000 as ‘reward’ acknowledging his achievements at an international level, and second, a legislation is passed in Punjab Assembly stating that no Guinness World Record holder is left helpless and must be encouraged at the government level.
It is pertinent to mention here that Pakistan Today was the first to highlight the problems of Farhan Ayub on August 20 and ever since, he has received attention on national media. Unfortunately, Farhan’s issue still remains unresolved.
