ISLAMABAD, April 16: The Beijing Olympics torch, on its ‘journey of harmony’, went through an impressive, though considerably shortened, relay outside the sprawling Jinnah Sports Complex on Wednesday as prominent citizens carried the torch around the stadium amid tight security followed by Chinese fireworks.

The torch, on its tenth leg of the tour, arrived here from Muscat, Oman and left for New Delhi, India later in the night.

Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani, President Pervez Musharraf, President Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) Syed Arif Hasan, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Executive Vice President of Beijing Olympic Committee and other dignitaries from foreign missions and Chinese government were also present at the Olympic torch relay ceremony.

The Olympic torch, dubbed as ‘Lucky Cloud’ and representing harmony between people and the nature, was carried by some 65 prominent personalities including sportsmen and celebrities who took turns to carry the torch.

Jiang Xiaoyu, executive vice president of the Beijing Organising Committee for the 2008 Olympic Games (BOCOG), talking to Dawn, said it was indeed a momentous occasion and a day of celebrations for the people of Pakistan.

Xiaoyu lauded the arrangements for the grand ceremony and said that the Olympic Torch relay to Pakistan depicted the strong bondage between China and Pakistan which has continued for several decades.

He added that with both the top figureheads in President and Prime Minister of Pakistan attending the historic event, it amply reflected the importance of close relations between the two nations.

Hundreds of Chinese citizens, who were also present to witness the historic torch relay ceremony, chanted slogans of ‘Pak-China friendship’, ‘Good Luck Beijing’ and ‘We are ready’ and ‘Come on Beijing.

Samiullah Khan, the legendary hockey player known as the ‘Flying Horse’, was handed the honours of commencing the torch relay. Earlier, he told Dawn that he was extremely delighted at the occasion and felt lucky and honoured to be the first to carry the Olympic torch.

Sami felt that the historic event will go a long way in boosting the sports scene in Pakistan.

Chinese Ambassador Luo Zhaohui later took over the torch from Samiullah amid colourful ceremony.

The torch was finally presented to squash legend Jahangir Khan who then lit the flame inside the Chinese-built Liauqat Gymnasium amid loud cheers from some 6,000 spectators which included hundreds of school children.

Around 3,000 security officials guarded the area at the Jinnah Stadium.

AFP adds: Squash legend Jahangir Khan on Wednesday said he hoped the Olympic torch relay would spark greater interest in sports among Pakistan’s youth and help raise falling standards.

Jahangir was chosen to light the cauldron at the end of the relay later on Wednesday at a grand ceremony.

Jahangir, who won a world record 10 British Open titles between 1982 to 1991, said: “Olympic torch coming to Pakistan is a historic occasion and I hope youth of our country and government officials take inspiration from this prestigious honour and raise our falling standards in sports,” he said.

“Gone are the days when sports and sportsmen were Pakistan’s identity and my heart weeps on that. I will request the new prime minister to take strict measures to stop this slide.

“We have come to a point where hockey has no chance of winning a medal because we are losing to smaller nations and the blame goes to sports authorities and players who are unwilling to work hard,” said Jahangir, also a six-time world champion. Pakistan’s last Olympic medal came in Los Angeles in 1984 when the hockey team struck gold.

Pakistan also won gold medals at the Rome Olympics in 1960 and at Mexico in 1968. Besides hockey, Pakistan won a bronze medal in wrestling in Rome and another bronze when boxer Hussain Shah reached the semi-finals in Seoul in 1988.

Jahangir, who will attend the Beijing Olympics as president of the World Squash Federation, said he would lobby for squash’s inclusion in the Summer Games.

“We have been endeavouring for squash’s inclusion in Olympics and I hope to see officials of International Olympic Committee and will lobby for squash’s inclusion in the 2016 Games,” he said.