Pakistan’s legendary boxer Dildar seeking job for last 17 years
Pakistan’s two-time SAF boxing gold medal winner Dildar Ahmed, 50, is running from post to pillar to get a job for last 17 years so he could earn bread and butter for his family through respectable way but no one is ready to help him out.
Pakistan’s two-time SAF boxing gold medal winner Dildar Ahmed, 50, is running from post to pillar to get a job for last 17 years so he could earn bread and butter for his family through respectable way but no one is ready to help him out.
Teary-eyed Dildar while talking to The Nation on said: “I had given my entire life to Pakistan. I had won gold medal in 1989 SAF Games in Islamabad in heavyweight category and SAF gold in Kolkata in 1991. I started boxing in 1986 and won silver medal in Asian Boxing Championship in 1987 in Kuwait. In the very first year of my boxing career, I also played in Egypt Boxing Championship in 1988 and won bronze medal and remained undefeated in Pakistan from 1986 to 1993.”
He said he had joined Pakistan Army in 1986 and had represented Army in World Military Games. “I won bronze medal in Asian Boxing Championship in 1989 in Beijing and in 1992, I won silver medal in Asian Boxing Championship in Bangkok, Thailand. I also took part in Denmark boxing event in 1992.”
Dildar said he received a nasty head injury in 1990 during a fight. “At that time, I didn’t realise, how severe was the nature of the injury and I continued to fight for Pakistan at international and national level and won lot of medals in my long career. In 1993, I started to feel severe headache that had become almost unbearable. I went to CMH and have scans of my head on the advice of doctors panel, who operated me and I somehow managed to continue fighting till 1999. But by then, the injury had already taken its toll and Army appointed a medical board and I was relieved from duties. Since then, I am trying to get a job, so I could provide shelter and food to my lone daughter. I am getting only Rs10,000 monthly pension, which is not enough to even clear utility bills. I had to take regularly medicines and my daughter is also school going. I had time and again visited Pakistan Sports Board and requested them to hire my services as security guard. I would perform my duties with dedication, but no one is ready to help me out. I had time and again think about selling my medals so I could get some money to start my own business but there is absolutely no respect for the past legends, who had not earn money or played for the country for self promotion, but only with one aim and that was to take Pakistani flag way ahead above the rest.”
He said he received some money when he got retired from Army but all was spent for his treatment. He requested Army Chief General Raheel Sharif, Prime Minster Nawaz Sharif, IPC Minister Riaz Hussain Pirzada and DG PSB Dr Akhtar Nawaz Ganjera to have mercy on him and either start stipend for him and his or arrange a respectable job at his hometown Faisalabad as he can’t leave his family behind. “I hope and pray someone would finally have some mercy and provide me justice. I am tired now for the last almost 17 years and had not left any stone unturned to seek a job, but to no avail. I am still hopeful, keeping in mind my unmatched contributions for the country, I would be given some kind of relief and that too on top priority basis,” Dildar concluded.
Teary-eyed Dildar while talking to The Nation on said: “I had given my entire life to Pakistan. I had won gold medal in 1989 SAF Games in Islamabad in heavyweight category and SAF gold in Kolkata in 1991. I started boxing in 1986 and won silver medal in Asian Boxing Championship in 1987 in Kuwait. In the very first year of my boxing career, I also played in Egypt Boxing Championship in 1988 and won bronze medal and remained undefeated in Pakistan from 1986 to 1993.”
He said he had joined Pakistan Army in 1986 and had represented Army in World Military Games. “I won bronze medal in Asian Boxing Championship in 1989 in Beijing and in 1992, I won silver medal in Asian Boxing Championship in Bangkok, Thailand. I also took part in Denmark boxing event in 1992.”
Dildar said he received a nasty head injury in 1990 during a fight. “At that time, I didn’t realise, how severe was the nature of the injury and I continued to fight for Pakistan at international and national level and won lot of medals in my long career. In 1993, I started to feel severe headache that had become almost unbearable. I went to CMH and have scans of my head on the advice of doctors panel, who operated me and I somehow managed to continue fighting till 1999. But by then, the injury had already taken its toll and Army appointed a medical board and I was relieved from duties. Since then, I am trying to get a job, so I could provide shelter and food to my lone daughter. I am getting only Rs10,000 monthly pension, which is not enough to even clear utility bills. I had to take regularly medicines and my daughter is also school going. I had time and again visited Pakistan Sports Board and requested them to hire my services as security guard. I would perform my duties with dedication, but no one is ready to help me out. I had time and again think about selling my medals so I could get some money to start my own business but there is absolutely no respect for the past legends, who had not earn money or played for the country for self promotion, but only with one aim and that was to take Pakistani flag way ahead above the rest.”
He said he received some money when he got retired from Army but all was spent for his treatment. He requested Army Chief General Raheel Sharif, Prime Minster Nawaz Sharif, IPC Minister Riaz Hussain Pirzada and DG PSB Dr Akhtar Nawaz Ganjera to have mercy on him and either start stipend for him and his or arrange a respectable job at his hometown Faisalabad as he can’t leave his family behind. “I hope and pray someone would finally have some mercy and provide me justice. I am tired now for the last almost 17 years and had not left any stone unturned to seek a job, but to no avail. I am still hopeful, keeping in mind my unmatched contributions for the country, I would be given some kind of relief and that too on top priority basis,” Dildar concluded.
