PESHAWAR: Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf chairman Imran Khan has criticised Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif for keeping Hazara University closed during his address to a public meeting in Mansehra and closure of schools in Bannu during his visit to the district on Tuesday.

Such tactics were tantamount to using students for political motives, he told the inaugural ceremony of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Under-23 Games at Qayyum Sports Complex here on Tuesday.

The PTI chief asked the provincial government to take action against those people, who allowed closure of educational institution in both the districts.

On the occasion, Provincial Minister for Sports Mahmood Khan, Minister for Elementary Education Mohammad Atif Khan, Minister for Public Health Shah Farman, Adviser to Chief Minister on Information Mushtaq Ahmed Ghani, Chief Secretary Amjad Ali Khan, Additional Chief Secretary Mohammad Azam Khan, Additional Secretary Sports Tariq Khan, Director General Sports Rashida Ghaznavi and other officials were also present.

Asks govt to take action against people responsible for closure of educational institutions in Mansehra, Bannu

The PTI chief said that Nawaz Sharif closed Hazara University and schools in Bannu for his public meetings, wasting the precious time of students. Such illegal practices were intolerable, he added.

Mr Khan highlighted the importance of sports and urged the youths to promote sports activities and spirit of competition. He said that sports activities were vital for healthy life. Without sports and exercise, fitness of mind and fitness of body was impossible, he added.

The PTI chief said that players should not fear defeat because those, who learnt from defeat, became champions in the world. “God have gifted you the ability to challenge every one and you have the capability to earn a good name for the country,” he said.

Encouraging the players, Mr Khan said that he learned from his mistake when he was dropped from the team for the first time. “When I controlled all of my mistakes, I was re-selected and never dropped from the team in the entire career. I always opted to become best captain and best all rounder of the world and never accepted defeat till last ball of the match,” he added.

Mr Khan said that there was competition in every field of life whether it was sports, politics, business or education. Those people, who could learn from the past would win the competition, he added.

The organisers of the event said that over 3,000 players were participating in the three-day sports gala. The directorate of sports arranged the event to hunt talented players and polish their abilities.

The logo and trophy had already been displayed at various divisions of the province including Abbottabad, Mardan, Kohat, Swat, Bannu and Dera Ismail Khan, the organisers said. The unveiling of logo and trophy was aimed at creating awareness among the players of various games to participate in the event, they added.

The outstanding players would be given prizes, trophies and sports kits at the end of the sports gala.

Earlier, committees were formed in Charsadda, Mardan, Swabi, Swat, Kohat, Dera Ismail Khan, Lakki Marwat and other districts to select players.

Published in Dawn, May 4th, 2016