Daily Times

Around 10 playgrounds in the country’s capital are being run by mafia led by influential people barring general public from using these grounds while the Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad (MCI) is helpless in restoring the grounds from illegal occupation.

According to the details provided by one of the officials from the Directorate of Sports & Culture, around 50 public playgrounds are established in Islamabad, out of which 10 grounds are running illegally by the influential people who earn Rs 300,000 to Rs 500,000 per month and also charge heavy fees ranging from Rs 15,000 to Rs 20,000 from youth who want to play matches and different games in the said public playground.

This is clear violation of laws set by the Capital Development Authority (CDA) and MCI. The source in Sports Directorate informed that Shalimar Cricket Ground in F-7 urban area of Islamabad is in the hands of a prominent journalist and former cricketer Majid Khan, Marguzar Cricket Ground is occupied by Malik Tahir of the Islamabad Cricket Association, Diamond Cricket Ground located in G-8 is occupied by Shakeel Sheikh, G11 cricket ground is occupied by Irfan Manzoor, while Janoon Cricket Ground is occupied by Khurram.

According to law, individuals or parties cannot operate on these grounds. These departments are supposed to maintain the services. According to provision of section 11 and 12 of the CDA Ordinance 1960, CDA will develop and maintain public parks, playing fields and graveyards.

According to details, some influential people have established cricket grounds between the greenbelts connecting sector with each other for commercial purposes and bypassing the laws of the relevant departments.

Published in Daily Times, November 16^th 2018.