Shehbaz, Mashhood Held Responsible for Sports Suspension by Ex-Olympian

"It is Rana Mashhood’s duty to find out why the departmental sports has not been restored," he asserted.

By DTD- On Jul 10, 2025

Karachi— Former Olympian Hanif Khan has strongly criticized Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Prime Minister’s Youth Programme (PMYP) chairman Rana Mashhood for their failure to revive departmental sports in the country, which remain suspended despite repeated assurances.

In a bold statement on Wednesday, Khan questioned the authority of the prime minister, expressing frustration over the lack of action.

“I don’t believe the prime minister holds any real power. How is it possible that the prime minister issues a notification, yet it is not implemented?” he said.

He emphasized that if the premier truly had control, the directives to restore departmental sports would have been enforced without delay.

“If the prime minister had actual power, appointments for athletes would have been made within a day.”

Directly pointing fingers at PMYP Chairman Rana Mashhood, Khan held him primarily responsible for the continued inaction.

“It is Rana Mashhood’s duty to find out why the departmental sports has not been restored,” he asserted.

Khan also recalled the era of former President Zia-ul-Haq, when departmental sports flourished.

“There used to be teams for hockey, football, cricket, badminton, and tennis,” he noted, lamenting the decline of structured opportunities for athletes.

His remarks have reignited the debate over the role of government departments in nurturing sports talent and the pressing need for institutional support for athletes across the country.