In an unfortunate incident, the protective iron fence around the statue of legendary Olympian Samiullah Khan in Bahawalpur, Punjab, has been stolen. CCTV footage showing the thief dismantling and stealing the fence has gone viral on social media.
The Cantonment Police have registered a case and launched a search for the culprit.
Samiullah Khan’s statue, located in the upscale Model Town area, has repeatedly become a target for vandals and thieves. Three years ago, the hockey stick and ball from the statue were stolen, leading to widespread outrage. To address these incidents, the Cantonment Board built a protective platform and installed a sturdy iron fence around the statue. However, the thieves have now taken the fence as well.
After the earlier theft of the hockey stick and ball, civil society members installed a temporary hockey stick and ball as a symbolic gesture.
The theft of the protective fence is yet another blow to preserving the legacy of Samiullah Khan, fondly known as the “Flying Horse,” who brought pride to Pakistan through his exceptional achievements in hockey.
Samiullah Khan’s Career Achievements:
| Achievement | Details |
|---|---|
| Olympic Bronze Medal | Member of the Pakistan hockey team that won the bronze medal in the 1976 Summer Olympics (Montreal). |
| World Cup Silver Medal | Part of the Pakistan team that secured the silver medal in the 1975 Men’s Hockey World Cup. |
| World Cup Gold Medals | Contributed to Pakistan’s victories in the 1978 and 1982 Men’s Hockey World Cups. |
| Asian Games Gold Medals | Helped Pakistan clinch gold medals in the 1974 Asian Games (Tehran), 1978 Asian Games (Bangkok), and 1982 Asian Games (Delhi). |
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