■Development Must Expand Public Facilities, Not Replace Them with Privileges for the Few■
“Bacha!” BāBā-Tāl, my tall, thin, ever-watchful guide, entered the Eyrie, my rooftop studio, wearing his navy-blue robe adorned with brass bells. His blue jeans, torn at the knees, revealed their loose threads above his joggers. His deep eyes carried the familiar warmth of a companion who loves to guide rather than command.
Only moments earlier, he had disappeared into the kitchenette, telling me to continue my work while he prepared tea. Now the brass kettle had whistled, announcing the arrival of our steaming cups.
“To demolish an existing public facility instead of providing an additional one, merely to accommodate the Takasirya Tabqah—the oligarchic class already draining the lifeblood of our motherland—is an injustice to ordinary citizens,” he whispered, placing a mug before me.
His words brought me back to a controversy troubling our city: the reported proposal to demolish an existing stadium to make way for a Gymkhana. Social activists and concerned citizens are resisting the loss of a facility intended for sports and healthy recreation.
Their concern deserves a hearing.
SPORTS ARE NOT A LUXURY
A stadium is more than a stretch of land. It is where young people learn discipline, teamwork, perseverance and respect for rules. It provides opportunities for athletics, cricket, football, school competitions and community events. For youngsters unable to afford private clubs, a public sports ground may be their only accessible sporting venue.
Governments have a responsibility to encourage healthy activities and create opportunities for citizens. Why should a city sacrifice one public amenity to acquire another when thoughtful planning may accommodate both?
The Holy Qur’an declares:
“Indeed, Allah commands you to render trusts to whom they are due and when you judge between people to judge with justice.”
— Surah An-Nisa, 4:58
Public land is a trust. Its administration demands fairness, transparency and consideration of the people whose interests it is meant to serve. Development should expand public opportunities, not diminish them for the convenience of a privileged minority.
A GYMKHANA HAS ITS PLACE, TOO
Gymkhanas became established features of sporting and recreational life during British rule in the Indian subcontinent. They developed as venues for organised sports, dining, social interaction and gatherings of civil and military officers and privileged members of society.
Lahore Gymkhana traces its institutional history to the Lahore and Mian Mir Institute, established in 1878, while Karachi Gymkhana dates to 1886. These institutions reflect a longstanding tradition of recreation and official hospitality, although their colonial origins also remind us of the inequalities surrounding access.
A district headquarters may reasonably require a suitable venue for visiting dignitaries, professional gatherings, official hospitality and organised recreation. A Gymkhana can fulfil legitimate civic purposes if it is properly planned and managed.
BāBā-Tāl sipped his tea and recalled the story associated with the 1965 Indo-Pakistan War. According to the familiar wartime anecdote, Indian forces advancing towards Lahore anticipated victory and reportedly expected a celebration at Lahore Gymkhana. Lahore remained in Pakistani hands, and the anticipated celebration never took place. The story should be treated as a reported anecdote rather than established proof of the military command’s intentions.
“So, Bacha,” BāBā-Tāl whispered, “a Gymkhana may be a legitimate need of a district headquarters. But why must the public stadium pay the price?”
I had no answer to challenge his question.
MADAM SARA HAYAT: AN OPPORTUNITY FOR A SOLUTION
“And another thing, Bacha!” BāBā-Tāl reminded me. “When Madam Sara Hayat, the Deputy Commissioner, arrived after her transfer, you visited her during her first week in office with Madam Principal Munazzaha Hashmi, Sana Naseem Fatima and the respected gynaecologist Dr Hina Chaudhry. You carried a bouquet and a cake to welcome her. Remember?”
I smiled and nodded.
“Then approach her again,” he advised. “Present the citizens’ concerns respectfully and suggest that the Gymkhana be considered within the existing District Complex or on suitable adjoining land.”
There is reason to seek a constructive solution. Madam Sara Hayat has reportedly taken steps on long-pending civic projects, including the beautification of a public market and the completion of an intercity road project that had remained stalled for decades. These initiatives offer grounds for hope that consultation and practical planning may resolve the stadium controversy as well.
The District Complex or adjoining government land could be assessed for availability, ownership, planning requirements, cost and suitability. Relevant departments, sports representatives, social activists and citizens should be consulted before any irreversible decision is made.
The stadium’s existing use, condition and future potential also deserve an objective assessment. If improvements are needed, rehabilitation and better management should be explored. Demolition should not become the default answer to a planning challenge.
THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THOSE IN AUTHORITY
The Holy Prophet Muhammad [Peace and blessings be upon him] said:
“Each of you is a shepherd and each of you is responsible for his flock.”
— Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith 893; Sahih Muslim, Hadith 1829.
This teaching places responsibility at the heart of leadership. Public office is not merely authority over land and buildings; it is a duty towards the people affected by official decisions.
John F. Kennedy’s celebrated words offer a complementary reminder: “Ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country.” Yet civic responsibility must go hand in hand with responsible government. Citizens can contribute to their communities, but public institutions must protect the common good and provide opportunities that individuals cannot create alone.
A Gymkhana need not become a symbol of exclusion. Transparent management, reasonable charges, sporting programmes and appropriate community access could help it serve a wider civic purpose. The stadium, meanwhile, should remain a priority for young people, schools and sports organisations.
BāBā-Tāl placed his empty mug beside mine. His brass bells chimed softly.
“Bacha! A government earns respect not by taking away what people already possess, but by finding ways to give them more.”
His words stirred a few lines within me:
POETEARS — Coined by S.T. Hejazi
A public field gives young dreams wings to rise,
And nurtures courage in their hopeful eyes;
Build new halls where civic needs may grow,
But do not bury people’s dreams in privilege’s disguise.
Where poetry becomes tears, and tears become poetry.
Outside the Eyrie, the city continued its restless movement. The solution appeared simple, though its execution would require administrative will: preserve the stadium, investigate a suitable alternative for the Gymkhana, and bring the public into the decision-making process.
The choice is not between progress and resistance. It is between development that excludes and development that serves.
A stadium for the people. A Gymkhana for the city. And a government that understands the difference between exercising authority and fulfilling a trust.