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| April 28, 2003 | Monday | Safar 25, 1424 |
Pakistan’s greatest sportsman still getting a raw deal
KARACHI, April 27: Jahangir Khan, arguably the greatest sportsman this country ever produced, is still being given a raw deal by his old employers, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), although being associated with the airline for the last 24 years.
When based as the General Manager Sports, Jahangir one day after attending his office was quite amazed to receive a letter delivered to his residence that same evening which stated his services were not required anymore by PIA.
Jahangir immediately tried to get in touch with the national carrier’s bosses for an explanation but they refused to entertain him.
The great sportsman immediately filed a petition in the Supreme Court and the Federal Tribunal in Islamabad, gave the verdict in Jahangir’s favour stating that he should be reinstated and all the pending dues be paid up to him. But defying all odds, PIA has refused to abide by by the Court’s order.
It is indeed a great shame that such a great sportsman, perhaps the greatest squash player who ever lived, be treated in such a shabby manner.
Jahangir won the British Open for 10 consecutive years, a unique landmark which does not looked to be matched in the future, bringing laurels to the country.
Apart from the British Open, Jahangir won the World Open title for a period of six years. He also holds the longest reign as an unbeaten player, a period which lasted five years and eight months winning over 800 matches without being beaten.
He is also the only sportsman from this country to have his picture embossed on the Pakistan stamp.
Jahangir, who holds the civil award of Hilal-e-Imtiaz, is the first Asian to be nominated as the President of the World Squash Federation, which has 120 member countries.
It is a great shame that such a great sportsman, adored and loved not only by his countrymen but the whole world, is treated in such a miserable manner.
In other countries great sportsmen are held in high esteem by their countrymen such as Brazilian Pele, England’s Bobby Charlton, Fred Perry, Stirling Moss etc., and many, many great sportsmen from other countries of the world. Most of these great sportsmen so respected, have even received a knighthood.
Even Sir Vivian Richards, hailing from a small island of Antigua in the West Indies, has been knighted by the queen for services to cricket.
India also has immense respect of her great sportsmen. Take the instance of Sunil Gavaskar, cueists Wilson Jones, Michael Ferreira, Yasin Merchant and many others, yet in our own yard, Jahangir, the greatest sportsmen ever produced by this country, is discarded like a blown up tire.
PIA is still operating the sports complex situated on Kashmir Road which is still known as the Jahangir Khan Sports Complex, using this great man’s name to earn millions of rupees.
There is a great saying in the English language, “Great men never die or are discarded, they just fade away.”
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