PM bans New Year celebrations in Pakistan in solidarity with Palestinians

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has imposed a complete ban on New Year celebrations. Prime Minister Anwaar-ul Haq Kakar has strictly instructed that there should be no celebrations of any kind in the country. The official explanation is that the celebrations were banned in solidarity with the Palestinians.

‘Keeping in mind the very serious situation in Palestine and to show solidarity with their brothers and sisters, there will be a strict ban by the government on organizing any kind of events in the New Year,’ Anwaar-ul Haq said. He added that the attack in Gaza has violated all limits and that 21,000 Palestinians have been killed so far.

New Year's celebrations are held in a grand manner in other countries, but in Pakistan, this has not been the case for many years. Radical Islamic groups, which have significant influence in the country, oppose the celebrations. That is why there is an undeclared ban on New Year celebrations. It is not new in Pakistan that terrorist groups try to stop such celebrations even by using force. Often the police also do not intervene in this matter. This time, as the government has imposed a ban, it is believed that there will be more police intervention.