In his resignation letter to the prime minister, Pirzada says that during the current tenure his repeated requests for a meeting with the Prime Minister were denied. According to Pirzada, this adversely affected the working of his ministry since the envisioned progressive initiatives could not be implemented.
Pirzada wrote that there was continued interference in his ministry and affiliated departments by the Prime Minister's principal secretary. "This suggests a lack of confidence in my abilities or a loss of faith and trust." The minister added that the interference has not only distressed him but also clipped his powers. "You clip the wings of a bird and ask it to fly," Pirzada wrote in the resignation.
"I have been insulted so many times by the principal secretary that I do not want to return...I will now speak in the National Assembly," Pirzada said while speaking to the media on Friday. The minister also expressed his reservations over the removal of DG Sports Akhtar Nawaz Ganjera who was suspended for three months by the federal government. In the notification of suspension, there was no mention of any charge against the DG, he said.
Lashing out at the Prime Minister's principal secretary and secretary establishment over the removal of Ganjera, Pirzada said there is pilferage in every department but even if all the corruption in the sports board over the years is totalled, it would be less than one-hundred-thousandth of the corruption of those who are behind Ganjera's removal.
He said his team has worked harder and the result of their sweat and blood is evident in the rise of the sports board. He alleged that certain quarters are eyeing the sports board, waiting for millions to come to the board before they would appoint their own cronies to pilfer funds for themselves. Pirzada claimed that it is likely that Prime Minister Sharif might not have any idea about the removal of Ganjera and added that he would not speak against the Prime Minister whom he still considers his leader.
He also claimed that the daughter of Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan went to India to participate in Saif Games and therefore Akhtar Nawaz was sent along with the team with a view to avoid the any unfortunate incident.
Pirzada held farewell meetings with Pakistan Sports Board members on Friday. He voiced his resentment saying, "People involved in corruption worth billions of rupees have de-seated the DG sports." He also alleged Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister Fawad Hassan Fawad of corruption. Not only that, the minister also maintained that secretary establishment was following a corruption suit. Answering a question, the minister said he would not take back his resignation and would express his reservations on the floor of the National Assembly.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2017