In an interested development, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government installed a signboard ‘Imran Khan Cricket Stadium’ instead of its original name ‘Arbab Niaz Stadium’ despite Imran Khan’s strong objection.
Last month, founder Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan rejected the Khyber Pakthtunkhwa (KP) government’s decision to rename a stadium after him.
On February 21, Chief Minsiter KP Ali Amin Gandapur approved a summary renaming the stadium after Khan’s name.
However, Aleema Khan after meeting with Imran Khan in Adiala Jail on March 4 relayed his message, saying, “The first thing Khan talked about with us today was some stadium in Peshawar renamed after him. He disliked the proposal very much and asserted that he has never done anything like this and he does not like it if anyone else does it for him too.”
“He has demanded that the stadium’s new name [Imran Khan cricket stadium] must be taken back. He emphasised this message particularly.”
She clarified that the former prime minister did not know about the decision beforehand and only found out from newspapers.
It merits a mention that it was KP CM Gandapur who personally desired to rename the stadium after founder PTI.
Even after strongest objections by Imran Khan, the KP government has put up the new signboard ‘Imran Khan Cricket Stadium’.
