KARACHI, Dec 12: The controversy surrounding the termination of the services of Pakistan’s leading sports trio-former squash stars Jahangir and Jansher Khan, and ex cricketer Zaheer Abbas - intensified as the former chief of Pakistan International Airlines Arif Abbasi Tuesday accused the administration of destroying an institution in sports.

“How can you destroy an institution like Jahangir Khan? There are other sportsmen as well but Jahangir Khan is an institution by himself and a world renowned figure,” said Abbasi, also a former Pakistan Cricket Board chief executive.

The services of the three were terminated last month by PIA that said it would be laying off more staff following a financial crunch.

Fearing that PIA was abandoning its patronage of sports in the country, he rejected the view that this should have to take place owing to an economic crisis.

“Sportsmen can bring in a lot of money through proper projection. Jahangir has done that,” he reflected.

“People should rally round and appeal to the high-ups that Jahangir’s services should be revived, he doesn’t need to appeal.”

He lamented that “Jahangir was elected as one of five athletes of the millennium and here we don’t need his services.”

It’s a dramatic irony that rather than correcting other aspects of the airline they are sacking sportsmen,” Abbasi said.

Khan won a world record of ten British Open titles during his illustrious career and remained undefeated for five and a half years - another world record.

“PIA can use this institution and through Jahangir can earn the sort of publicity that no advertising can match,” he said.

“Once we sent Jahangir to France and PIA earned so much attention that we had to extend his stay,” he said. —SADA