Pakistan Football association has announced a change of venue for the upcoming AFC Asian U16 qualifiers.
The qualifying group that Iran is competing in , with host Pakistan, Sri lanka and the UAE will be played from from 25th to 29th of September. The round-ribbon competition , was originally scheduled to be played in Karachi. The city has a notorious reputation for violence and bombing. Even children and football fans are not immune against the terrorist attacks as was evident in the last month bomb attack in a football stadium. The football match with many children and young spectator attending was targeted by the Islamist terrorists resulting in many casualties. The Shia and Hazara minorities are regularly targeted by the extremist salafi and Taliban criminals in Pakistan and Karachi in particular.
Playing under such circumstances was an extreme risk which was initially ignored or undermined by the organizers and the AFC.
The announcement today of the venue change to Lahore in the northern part of Pakistan is a major relief for the participants.
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