Peshawar High Court demands report on Arbab Niaz Stadium renaming

Peshawar – (Web Desk) – The Peshawar High Court on Thursday asked the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government to explain why Arbab Niaz Cricket Stadium was renamed after former Prime Minister Imran Khan.

A two-judge bench, made up of Justice Syed Arshad Ali and Justice Sadiq Ali Momand, took up a petition that challenges this name change and questioned whether proper rules were followed.

When the case was called, both the government’s lawyer and the petitioner’s counsel were present in court to present their arguments.

The petitioner’s lawyer pointed out that the renaming was done without following the proper legal process. He reminded the court that both judicial rulings and government policies clearly state that no public property can be named after a person who is still alive.

He also highlighted an interesting point — Imran Khan himself had reportedly objected to having the stadium named after him, making the decision even more questionable.

Justice Syed Arshad Ali noted that courts have already settled this matter through previous rulings, making it clear that public places should not carry the names of living individuals.

The bench also offered a practical suggestion — if the government truly wishes to honour Imran Khan, it should consider building a brand new facility and naming that after him instead.

The government’s lawyer asked for some time to gather and present the official records related to this decision. The court gave the government 10 days to submit all relevant documents.

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The hearing was then wrapped up, with the next round of proceedings scheduled once the government’s report is received.