LAHORE, May 19: Punjab Olympic Association (POA) has demanded of the government to get back the hosting right of the ninth SAF Games.

POA  secretary Idrees Haider Khawaja said on  Monday  that shifting of the SAF Games to another country would harm the country’s sporting image.

The secretary proposed that these Games should be held in Pakistan in October, 2003 when the weather conditions would also be conducive to sports competitions and the situation in the region would hopefully be normal.

The  SAF  Games had been allotted to Pakistan but postponed twice due to Afghan war and tense situation on the Indo-Pak borders.

 Last time the Games were to be held at Islamabad from March 29, but postponed by the SAARC body in its meeting held  at Islamabad on March 21.