Imran Khan (left), head of Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf political party ruling the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province, leaves the Supreme Court in Islamabad yesterday.
PESHAWAR: Pakistan cricket hero Imran Khan is launching a hunt for sporting talent as part of a flagship counter-terrorism policy in the northwest province governed by his party, an aide said yesterday.
“Terrorism has been very destructive for sports... that is why we are aiming at sports activities to end terrorism in the province,” said Iftikhar Elahi, sports and culture coordinator for the party.
Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) won a breakthrough in May elections, becoming the country’s third largest party and forming a government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, hit by Taliban attacks.
Khan has courted controversy in the West for advocating peace talks with the Taliban and there have been questions about how his inexperienced party will tackle the scourge of violence.
On July 26 suicide bombers killed 57 people in the tribal town of Parachinar, and on Monday Taliban fighters stormed a northwest prison, freeing more than 240 inmates, including militants.
Elahi said he hoped cricket, a national obsession in Pakistan, can bring peace. Khan is Pakistan’s greatest all rounder and captained the country to its only World Cup victory in 1992.
“Our party gives special stress on youth and sports and with Khan as leader and initiator of the programme we hope it can help bring peace in the province,” Elahi said, adding the scout for talent was part of the party’s programme to develop what is one of the most deprived parts of Pakistan.
“The programme is aimed to spot talent in cricket from the province. Khan has taken the initiative as part of his development programmes in KPK.”
The province has produced greats like Younis Khan, Shahid Afridi and Umar Gul in recent years, but militant bomb attacks and shootings have destroyed aspects of daily life.
“Khan will give as much time as possible and we have also hired a few coaches (former players) who will help spot talent and groom them,” said Elahi.
He said talks were underway to help build and renovate proper cricket grounds in the province.
The hunt will be extended to the semi-autonomous tribal belt neighbouring the province, which Washington considers a premier hub of Taliban and Al Qaeda operatives who pose a global threat.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court ordered Khan to respond in detail over allegations that he committed contempt by making derogatory remarks against judges.
Khan says polls were rigged and criticised the judiciary and the election commission for not taking action.
The court summoned him yesterday to explain what it called his “derogatory language against the Supreme Court and its judges, and a deliberate campaign to scandalise” the judiciary.
Khan defended his remarks, but the three-member bench headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry said it was not satisfied and asked him to submit a detailed response on August 28.
“The explanation is not acceptable. The case is adjourned until August 28,” Chaudhry told Khan, directing him to submit a fresh reply before the next hearing.
Khan says the role of the judiciary and the commission in the May 11 vote was shameful and that elections were rigged.
If convicted, lawyers say Khan faces up to six months in prison.
But Khan said he had done nothing wrong. “I have not done anything wrong... why should I apologise?” he said outside the court. “I have not said anything which can lead to the punishment. I can’t use such words for the superior judiciary, I referred to the returning officers who conducted elections.”
Pakistan’s previous government accused the judiciary of politically motivated meddling when it sacked prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani after finding him guilty of contempt. Gilani was convicted for refusing to write to Swiss authorities asking them to re-open corruption cases against President Asif Ali Zardari on the grounds that he had immunity as head of state. afp
