LAHORE: Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Justice Umar Ata Bandial inaugurated a pavilion of the Punjab International Tennis Stadium, named after tennis legend Khwaja Iftikhar Ahmed, here on Saturday at Nishtar Park Sports Complex.
Various prominent personalities including Justice (r) Khalilur Rehman Ramday, Vice-Chairman SBP Rao Zahid Qayyum, Punjab Secretary Sports and Youth Affairs Ehsan Bhutta, Director General Punjab Sports Board Muhammad Tariq Qureshi, Director Admin Syed Umair Hassan and Director Sports Nadeem Qaiser, Khwaja Iftikhar’s sons — Kh Khurram, Kh Sohail, Sharmeen Khurram, former Davis Cuper and Rasheed Malik also attended the ceremony.
Several other guests such as Azhar Noon, Salim Salamat, Ayub Sabir Izhar, Shraz J Monnoo, Qaiser Gul, Syed Tahir Ikhlaq, Mobeen Ahmed, and top sports personalities and a large number of tennis officials and enthusiasts were also present.
Punjab Sports Board (PSB) Vice-Chairman Rao Zahid Qayyum, Secretary Sports and Youth Affairs Punjab Ehsan Bhutta and PSB Director General Muhammad Tariq Qureshi accorded a warmly welcome to Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial upon arrival at the state-of-the-art tennis venue.
On the occasion, the CJP awarded shields to the SBP VC, the Punjab Secretary Sports and Youth Affairs, the DG Punjab Sports Board, Kh Khurram, Kh Sohail, Sharmeen Khurram, Azhar Noon, Salim Salamat, Ayub Sabir Izhar, Shraz J Monnoo, Qaiser Gul, Syed Tahir Ikhlaq, Mobeen Ahmed and other guests.
Kh Khurram, Kh Sohail and Sharmeen Khurram also presented a souvenir to honourable Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Umar Ata Bandial.
The Sports and Youth Affairs Secretary and the DG Sports Punjab Muhammad Tariq Qureshi gave a thorough briefing NPSC Tennis Stadium and other key sports venues.
Addressing the ceremony, Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Umar Ata Bandial said Khawaja Iftikhar was a fair and graceful man, who never compromised on principles throughout his life. “Khawaja Iftikhar was a gracious and kind tennis star like Roger Federer. Pakistan should have many more such tennis players like Khawaja Iftikhar. Naming a stand of Punjab International Tennis Stadium after Khawaja Iftikhar is a befitting tribute to a great tennis legend,” he added.
He further said that the beautiful thing about sports is that it taught us how to be competitive without being unfair. “Sports teaches us sportsmanship and the courage to fight till the last ball in every field”.
In his Khawaja Iftikhar’s son Kh Khurram highlighted the international services of his father. He informed that Kh Iftikhar was awarded Pride of Performance and Tamgh-e-Imtiaz in recognition of his meritorious services. “Kh Iftikhar, who is the maternal grandfather of tennis star Aisamul Haq, had the honour to represent India before partition. He also appeared in the top tennis tournament Wimbledon in his illustrious career”.
