Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Sports Directorate’s Open Court Exposes Administrative Failures and RTI Silence

 

Musarrat Ullah Jan , KikxNow , Digital Creator

Peshawar – In what was supposed to be a transparent exercise in public accountability, the Sports Directorate of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa held an e-court session under the directive of the Chief Minister. Nearly fifty citizens attended, while many more watched live online. High-ranking officials, including the Sports Advisor, Secretary of Sports, DG Sports, Director Youth, and Director Works, were present to field questions. However, the session revealed a disturbing pattern: when it came to Right to Information (RTI) requests and resource allocations, the Directorate chose silence over clarity.

The e-court session was meant to be a platform for athletes, youth, and citizens to raise pressing concerns about staffing shortages, infrastructure failures, and administrative lapses. But what emerged instead was a narrative of inconsistency, negligence, and bureaucratic opacity that undermines public trust.

The Hassan Khel Stadium, launched in 2019 as a “state-of-the-art” facility, was a central topic during the hearing. Despite its modern design, the stadium operates with minimal staff, leaving young athletes without proper coaching or supervision. Promotions for Class IV employees have been blocked, creating a managerial vacuum and rendering the facility largely ineffective. This raises a critical question: what is the point of constructing modern facilities if there is no staff to run them? The answer, as the session revealed, appears to be optics over function.

Perhaps the most damning revelation came regarding twelve bicycles allegedly provided to coaches in the merged districts. Initially, the Directorate claimed the bicycles had been distributed to the coaches. However, in a later RTI response, the same office stated: “we do not know.” This contradiction isn’t a simple clerical error—it reflects a systematic avoidance of accountability. RTI laws exist to ensure public access to verified information, yet the Directorate’s silence and conflicting statements send a clear message: “We are not answerable to anyone.”

The problems extend well beyond Hassan Khel Stadium. In Kohat, the shortage of care-takers and coaches leaves young athletes without guidance. In Bannu, work on the badminton hall has been halted. In Dara Adam Khel, there is no permanent sports officer, leaving athletes without local-level administrative support. In Ambar, there are no grounds for sports, forcing youth to train in informal or unsafe areas. Exclusion of local staff from district planning committees has further weakened the system.

Participants also highlighted issues with the Parachinar Sports Complex and Captain Rohullah Shaheed Stadium in Mohmand. Poor soil quality, weak construction, and widespread physical damage underscore a lack of oversight. Citizens demanded audits and inquiries into these projects, questioning whether they serve the public or merely political optics. Without proper oversight, these structures risk becoming symbols of failure rather than functional facilities.

The e-court also shed light on the systemic neglect of disabled athletes. Calls were made to include adaptive sports programs and to ensure cricket is part of the upcoming KP Games. Shortages of staff and poor maintenance at youth hostels were flagged, and urgent construction of a football ground in Landi Kotal was requested. Clearly, infrastructure alone is insufficient; proper planning, staffing, and operations are critical.

The session highlighted a worrying trend: the Sports Directorate has perfected the art of evading scrutiny. Silence on RTI requests, contradictory statements, and stalled projects reflect not just administrative incompetence but a failure of political oversight. Citizens cannot differentiate between honest mistakes and intentional obfuscation, eroding confidence in the Directorate.

If no immediate measures are taken, young athletes will lose faith in the system, participation rates may decline, and the region’s sports programs could face a prolonged crisis. Transparency, accountability, and adequate staffing are not optional—they are essential.

The broader consequences of ignoring these issues are alarming:

Youth Disillusionment: Without coaches and proper facilities, young athletes may abandon sports entirely.

Marginalization of Disabled Athletes: Adaptive sports programs remain inconsistent, limiting opportunities.

Mismanagement of Public Funds: Conflicting RTI responses and stalled projects indicate potential misallocation or inefficiency.

Administrative Evasion: Officials avoid responsibility by claiming procedural ambiguity or lack of knowledge.

In effect, the sector is reduced to a showpiece of empty buildings and broken promises, rather than a functioning hub for talent development and community engagement.

The e-court session should serve as a wake-up call:

All pending RTI requests must be answered promptly and transparently.

Audits of incomplete or substandard projects should be conducted immediately.

Staffing shortages, particularly coaches and care-takers, must be addressed across districts.

Facilities and programs for disabled athletes and youth should be prioritized.

Stadiums, halls, and sports complexes must be maintained as functional entities, not just media attractions.

Without these actions, KP’s sports sector risks remaining a collection of shiny buildings, empty halls, and unfulfilled promises, while the athletes who should benefit continue to face neglect and frustration.

The e-court hearing provided a rare opportunity for public scrutiny, but the Sports Directorate’s silence on RTI issues, contradictory statements, and systemic failures underscore a sobering reality: the Directorate prioritizes image over service.

Young athletes, disabled participants, and local communities deserve more than empty structures and political showpieces. Real progress requires accountability, transparency, and practical action. Without it, even the most modern facilities will remain unused, while the public’s trust—and the future of sports in the province—continues to erode.

 

The ball is now in the Directorate’s court: respond with action or continue hiding behind silence, contradictory statements, and media spectacle. The future of KP’s athletes—and the credibility of its sports administration—hangs in the balance.

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