Shiv Sena Threats: Participation in SAF Games doubtful

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan was still considering whether to take part in the South Asian Federation (SAF) Games or not, Minister for Interprovincial Coordination Riaz Hussain Pirzada said on Saturday. The 12th edition of the SAF Games is scheduled to take place at Guwahati and Shillong, India from February 6 to 16 next year. Pakistani sportspersons and actors have recently faced threats from Shiv Sena, a Hindu extremist party. It forced Pakistan commentator Wasim Akram as well as umpire Aleem Dar to quit their participation in the ongoing India-South Africa series, and return to Pakistan. Shiv Sena also announced plans to hinder promotions of Pakistani actors Mahira Khan and Fawad Khan’s upcoming movies in India. “We have yet to take a decision whether to send our contingent to India for the SAF Games or not,” Pirzada told journalists after distributing cash prizes to tennis players here at PTF Complex.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 1^st, 2015.