Pakistan bans Holi celebrations in universities, calling it erosion of its Islamic identity

Earlier this month, a video of Holi celebrations at a Pakistani university went viral on social media. The video showed hundreds of students smearing each other with colour. But the celebrations do not seem to have gone down too well with the Pakistan Higher Education Commission (HEC), which has issued a notice "advising" universities to refrain from such celebrations. 

• The Holi celebrations were held on June 12 on the campus of Quaid-i-Azam University in Islamabad. 

Happy Holi 🖤 🥀
Biggest Holi celebrations at Quaid-i-Azam University Islamabad Pakistan 🌹 pic.twitter.com/ZciVSyctuI

— QAU News (@NewsQau) June 13, 2023

What did the notice say?

• Some reports are stating that Pakistan's Higher Education Commission (HEC) has banned Holi celebrations in universities in Pakistan based on the notice issued to them. 

Celebrating Holi in a University has endangered Islam in Pakistan. pic.twitter.com/x2GIRvoO5H

— Imtiaz Mahmood (@ImtiazMadmood) June 21, 2023

• The notice which took cognizance of this particular Holi celebration at Quaid-i-Azam University stated that such activities are not in line with the country's sociocultural values and "Islamic identity". 

• The HEC is also concerned that the publicity that the celebrations got will negatively affect the "country's image". 

• Ironically, the notice also claimed that the HEC supports cultural, ethnic, and religious diversity to build a more inclusive and tolerant society, but that it needs to be done in a measured manner.  

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• The notice warned students of the involvement of "vested interests" in such celebrations. 
• The Holi celebration at Quaid-i-Azam University was organised by the Mehran Students' Council for its Hindu minority students, mostly from the Sindh region. 

Not only should the HEC immediately withdraw its letter but it should also issue a public apology to all students practicing the Hindu faith for terming celebration of #Holi as tarnishing image of Pakistan. The advisory issued by HEC is not only derogatory to beliefs of Hindu… pic.twitter.com/gsuue5Yx0g

— M. Jibran Nasir 🇵🇸 (@MJibranNasir) June 21, 2023

• The University has been celebrating minority religious festivals for a while including Christmas and they did expect some criticism. 
• However, the Mehran Students' Council general secretary Bisharat Ali said that he didn't expect the HEC to issue a notice and called it a reflection of the "growing lack of tolerance".

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