KikxNow , Digital Creator

  Musarrat Ullah Jan , KikxNow , Digital Creator In Pakistan, some buildings are constructed not only with bricks, cement, and steel, but also with promises, optimism, and government press releases. Their grand openings feature ribbon-cutting ceremonies, photo opportunities, and official speeches. Yet only a few years later, they are left with nothing but dust, silence, and neglect. The Hassan Khel Sports Complex is one of those projects. Built at a cost of millions of rupees, the complex has all the facilities expected of a modern sports venue. It includes a basketball court, badminton court, football ground, athletics track, and an administrative block. On paper, everything required to promote sport is there. Only one thing is missing: sport itself. It is a sports complex where the "complex" remains, but the sports have disappeared. There was a time when this facility was expected to become a hub for young athletes, local competitions, and community events. Like many ...

  Musarrat Ullah Jan , KikxNow , Digital Creator PESHAWAR: Questions surrounding the alleged disappearance of government vehicles belonging to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Sports Directorate have intensified after reports emerged that police recovered a vehicle during the investigation of a kidnapping case, with sources claiming it belongs to the Sports Directorate. However, neither the police nor the Sports Directorate has officially confirmed or denied the claim. If verified, the development raises serious concerns about the custody and use of government property. How did a government vehicle allegedly end up in the possession of a private individual? Was it officially assigned? Who was responsible for its movement? Where is its logbook and movement record? Has any departmental inquiry been initiated? The issue comes against the backdrop of repeated questions regarding the whereabouts and use of Sports Directorate vehicles. Instead of providing detailed explanations, the departme...

  Musarrat Ullah Jan , kikxNow , Digital Creator PESHAWAR: A Right to Information (RTI) request seeking records related to the academic qualifications, degree verification, recruitment process and governing regulations of former employees of the Tourism Corporation Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (TCKP), now serving in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Culture and Tourism Authority (KPCTA), has remained unresolved for more than a year, raising fresh concerns over transparency and public access to information. According to official documents, investigative journalist Musarrat Ullah Jan submitted an RTI application to KPCTA on 7 April 2025 under the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Right to Information Act. The application requested copies of the final academic qualifications and degrees of all former TCKP employees currently serving in KPCTA, details of the degree verification process, the names of institutions that verified the degrees, verification reports, and information on whether any discrepancies were iden...

  Musarrat Ullah Jan , kikxNow , Digital Creator PESHAWAR: President of the Provincial Hockey Association, Syed Zahir Shah, has warned that outsourcing sports grounds will have devastating consequences for the future of sports, saying the move will hit talented athletes from poor families the hardest and make sports accessible only to those who can afford the costs. Speaking to journalists in Peshawar, Shah said that the majority of successful athletes come from underprivileged backgrounds. He argued that handing sports facilities over to private contractors would lead to higher fees and additional expenses, forcing many talented but financially disadvantaged players to quit sports. Paying tribute to the services of sports pioneer Syed Aqil Shah, he said Aqil Shah made invaluable contributions to the promotion of sports in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He added that Lala Ayub Hockey Stadium in Peshawar was named after his late father, Lala Ayub, in recognition of his outstanding servic...

  Musarrat Ullah Jan , kikxNow , Digital Creator The Right to Information (RTI) Act guarantees citizens timely access to public information. But what happens when a public authority simply does not respond? On 7 April 2025 , a journalist submitted an RTI request to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Culture and Tourism Authority (KPCTA) seeking information related to former employees of the Tourism Corporation Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (TCKP) who are now serving in KPCTA. The request sought public records including: • A list of all former TCKP employees currently working in KPCTA, along with copies of their final academic qualifications and degrees. • Details of the degree verification process, including the agencies responsible for verification, verification reports, and whether any discrepancies were identified. • Copies of the regulations approved in principle by the Chairman of the KPCTA Board of Directors, along with amendments, dates of approval, and relevant Board meetings. • R...

Musarrat Ullah Jan , kikxNow , Digital Creator The implementation of the Right to Information (RTI) Act in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa continues to raise serious concerns. On 9 May 2025 , a journalist submitted an RTI request to the Public Information Officer of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Culture and Tourism Authority (KPCTA) seeking detailed information about the Tourism Police motorcycles. The request sought records including: • Fuel consumption of Tourism Police motorcycles during the previous 12 months, district-wise. • Monthly fuel consumption of each motorcycle. • Total fuel budget and expenditure. • The number of Tourism Police personnel deployed in Peshawar, Abbottabad (Galiyat), Mansehra (Kaghan), Swat, Chitral (Kalash), and Upper Dir (Kumrat). • The names, designations, and official duties of Tourism Police personnel posted in Peshawar. • The current location of the six motorcycles stationed at the Peshawar Head Office. • Details of how these motorcycles have been use...

  Musarrat Ullah Jan , kikxNow , Digital Creator Transparency is tested not by public statements, but by how public institutions respond to lawful requests for information. On 5 January 2025 , a journalist submitted two Right to Information (RTI) applications to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Culture and Tourism Authority (KPCTA) seeking information about: • Police and official vehicles, including their purchase, allocation, location, and fuel details. • Officials holding additional charges. • Procurement responsibilities. • Event management responsibilities and the officers assigned to them. Despite the legal obligation to respond within the timeframe prescribed under the RTI Act, no information was provided. As a result, on 5 April 2025 , the journalist filed a complaint before the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Right to Information Commission . The complaint was registered as No. 12299 . More than 14 months later , the complaint remains pending , while the requested public informat...

  Musarrat Ullah Jan , kikxNow , Digital Creator How committed is a public authority to transparency when it takes more than 14 months to answer a basic Right to Information (RTI) request? On 29 April 2025 , I submitted an RTI request to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Culture and Tourism Authority (KPCTA) seeking records related to the appointment of its Public Relations Officer (PRO). The request sought public information, including the PRO's name, date of appointment, educational qualifications, copies of academic credentials, recruitment advertisement, number of applicants, interview dates, details of the selection committee, and certified copies of all relevant documents. Despite the statutory timeframe under the RTI law, no information was provided. The matter had to be taken before the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Right to Information Commission . Finally, on 7 July 2026 , the Public Information Officer (PIO) of the Culture and Tourism Department submitted a written reply before the...

  Musarrat Ullah Jan , KikxNow , Digital Creator PESHAWAR: Fresh questions over transparency and financial accountability have emerged after a Right to Information (RTI) application was filed seeking official records on the use of land belonging to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Directorate of Sports by the Culture and Tourism Department . The application, submitted under the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Right to Information Act, 2013 , requests detailed information about the legal status of a building constructed by the Culture and Tourism Department on land owned by the Provincial Sports Directorate. The applicant has sought certified copies of approvals, No Objection Certificates (NOCs), agreements, notifications and other official documents authorising the construction of the building. The RTI also seeks copies of any lease agreement, licence or Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) governing the use of the land. The application further demands disclosure of the annual lease amount, the co...