Pakistan's Higher Education Commission (HEC) on Wednesday banned holi celebrations in universities. The order comes days after alleged videos of holi celebrations at the Quaid-i-Azam University went viral on social media.
The notice issued by the commission states, "It is advised that the HEIs may prudently distance themselves from all such activities obviously incompatible with the country's identity and societal values, while ensuring that they rigorously engage their students and faculty in academic pursuits, intellectual debates, and cognitive learning..."
It further read that such activities "portray a complete disconnect from country's sociocultural values and are an erosion of the country's Islamic identity."
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Earlier this month, viral videos on social media showed students of Quaid-i-Azam University playing with colours and celebrating holi on campus.
Apparently referring to the incident, the notice further read, "This widely reported/publicized event from the platform of a university has caused concern and has disadvantageously affected the country's image."
According to a report by India Today, in March, at least 15 Hindu students were injured after members of a radical Islamic student organisation stopped them from celebrating Holi at the Punjab University premises.
