Islamabad
Salman Sufi, who heads the Pakistan Prime Ministers Strategic Reforms Unit, said Education Minister Rana Tanveer Hussain had asked the Higher Education Commission (HEC) to withdraw a notification in which it took exception to the Hindu festival of Holi being celebrated at a university.
Have spoken to Rana Tanveer sahib, and he has taken stern notice of the notification by the HEC on discouraging religious festivals and has asked them to withdraw it, tweeted Sufi after the source reported about the notification, source reported.
The notification was sent by HEC Executive Director Shaista Sohail to vice chancellors and heads of institutions.
In its letter, the HEC claimed the widely reported/ publicised event of the celebration of Holi by the platform of a university had caused concern and disadvantageously affected the country’s image.
Unfortunately, it is sad to witness activities that portray a complete disconnect from our socio-cultural values and an erosion of the country’s Islamic identity.
One such instance that has caused concern was the fervour exhibited in marking (the) Hindu festival of Holi, source reported.
While the HEC letter did not name the varsity in question, it comes after Quaid-i-Azam University in Islamabad gained attention on social media for hosting an event for Holi, which took place on March 8.
In one of the videos circulating on social media, students can be seen dancing and throwing colours in the air as loud music plays in the background.
The letter advised HEIs to prudently distance themselves from all such activities obviously incompatible with the country’s identity and societal values.
