Ali Zaidi, Boxer Amir Khan scuffle over squash player’s treatment

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister Ali Zaidi and Amir khan have engaged in a twitter fight over taking credit for supporting former Pakistan number one squash player Riffat Khan.

Riffat Khan underwent knee surgery last week at Shiffa International Hospital to revive her career. She had earlier requested Prime Minister Imran Khan for assistance after Squash Federation, Sports Board and relevant authorities refused to help her.

After media channels highlighted her story, former boxing champion Amir Khan responded to her call and announced to help her. At the same time, Dr Shireen Mazari, reportedly, said that Maritime Affairs minister, Ali Zaidi, will bear all the expenses of Riffat’s operation. Riffat was operated on November 13 and was released from hospital the next day.

Following that, the British-Pakistani boxer tweeted the news item on Riffat’s improved health announcing that Amir Khan Foundation supported her and paid for the athlete.

Amir khan foundation show support and pay for operation @amirkingkhan https://t.co/ZGdHgWGztq

— Ak usama (@ak_usama55) November 18, 2019

Ali Zaidi responded quickly to that tweet saying that it was his ministry, not Aamir Khan who paid for the operation.

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“To set the record straight, PNSC paid for her operation! I heard Amir Khan offered to pay and many thanks for that, but the Maritime government had already stepped in. Therefore, please take credit where it’s due,” tweeted the minister.

To set the record straight, PNSC paid for her operation! I heard @amirkingkhan offered to pay and many thanks for that, but @MaritimeGovPK had already stepped in.
Therefore, please take credit where it’s due ????

— Ali Haider Zaidi (@AliHZaidiPTI) November 23, 2019

Replying to Ali Zaidi’s tweet, Aamir posted the bank transaction details on his twitter account saying he paid 334,569 rupees for the operation, the government didn’t.

For the record I Paid for the op 334.569 rps. Government didn’t !!! https://t.co/zYGZO65Qzx pic.twitter.com/DEZ2CTT9aJ

— Amir Khan (@amirkingkhan) November 23, 2019

Soon after these exchanges between the minister and the boxer, journalist Faizan Lakhani while replying to minister’s tweet said:

“Actually both of you helped her. I have seen evidence of Amir sending her money & the athlete has also confirmed you both helped her. Aamir stepped in only after relevant people in government had refused to help her, you also reacted to same news story. You both deserve credit”.

Actually both of you helped her. I have seen evidence of Amir sending her money & the athlete has also confirmed you both helped her. Aamir stepped in only after relevant people in government had refused to help her, you also reacted to same news story. You both deserve credit.

— Faizan Lakhani (@faizanlakhani) November 23, 2019