Filth, Fraud, and Impunity: Kohat Sports Complex Pool is turned into Eid Holiday Heist

 

Kohat – What was supposed to be a welcome break from the Eid holidays at the Kohat Sports Complex government swimming pool turned into a shocking exhibition of mismanagement, unabashed corruption, and total neglect of public health and safety. As families tried to find relief from the sweltering summer heat, they were greeted instead by a stinking pool, hazardous facilities, and an alleged cash racket that routed lakhs of rupees, all under the noses of mute officials.

Citizens who visited the complex during the Eid break were greeted with a scene that defied imagination. The pool, a public facility, was a churning whirlpool of dark, odious water – so pungent, many likened its odor to urine. Aside from the unpleasant water, the physical structure was in a dangerous condition. Ruptured stairs and grilles posed real dangers to life and limb, rendering a leisure activity a potential risk.

"Even animals would not swim in this," one appalled citizen commented, giving voice to the sentiments of others who had seen the deplorable state. Contributing to the mayhem was a total lack of discipline. Swimmers freely swam with shoes, smokers smoked without hindrance, and public indiscipline went unpunished. The very notion of rules and regulations, particularly in a government establishment, appeared to have dissipated.

The most disturbing element, though, was the reported financial exploitation. Over Eid holidays alone, unofficial estimates indicate a mind-boggling Rs 8 to 1 million was collected in cash. Importantly, no ticket or receipt was handed out, with no paper trail of transactions. Sources inside the complex finger the watchman directly as the main behind the all-cash operation and hint at other, more senior officials, who are said to have looked the other way.

"There is no bathing law here," said a citizen. "They are in shalwar, some with slippers. It's a system of 'two paisa and a bath' that not only defies regulations but sucks government revenue dry."

A closer inquiry uncovered an intriguing network of unofficial gatekeepers. Other sports in the complex, such as cricket, have set up membership or match fee models, but the pool exists in a shadowy world of unofficial entry. When residents asked about joining the pool, they were always referred to one person: "Go to Asif."

One angry citizen described their unsuccessful efforts to navigate this impenetrable system: "Players don't get facilities in Kohat. If you want membership for anything, everybody says go to Asif. The superintendent says he doesn't know, saying Asif does all this. It's a traditional officer and then Asif – the rest is divine will."

This mass deference to "Asif" by the public and seemingly by the RSO (Regional Sports Officer) reveals a disconcerting picture of a dual, unaccountable system running within a government complex to pretty much bypass official routes and accountability.

Outraged over the degrading conditions and suspected deceit, residents took matters into their own hands and took video evidence of the grime, shattered facilities, and overall chaos. Those incriminating images have been presented to local media and the public, fueling demands for swift action.

The public has come together in calling for a thorough probe by the Deputy Commissioner Kohat, Director Sports KP, and the Anti-Corruption Unit. Some of the main demands made are a proper audit of all cash collections from the swimming pool, strong action against all concerned officials, and the prompt repair, cleaning, and restoration of security features at the facility.

When the RSO was eventually pressed for a comment, his answer did little to reassure. He confirmed that "Asif is the boss here" and vaguely blamed the Eid holidays for the smashed grill. He also insisted that cleaning with acid and chlorine was done on schedule during the holidays – a claim which was flatly contradicted by the public outcry and video footage.

This expose, the latest in "Kikxnow's" series of investigations into corruption and corruption and irregularities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's sports infrastructure, casts a withering light on a very disturbing affair. Kohat Sports Complex swimming pool, far from being a public facility, has reportedly become a badge of official indifference and a personal money box in an era when public institutions were supposed to be at their finest.

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