Swat Police has arrested the manager and owner of the hotel in Malam Jabba on Wednesday after a video of the dance party in the hotel went viral on social media last week.
Police said they have arrested the owner and manager of the resort after an FIR was registered against them for violating the standard operating procedures set by the government and promoting vulgarity.
اس ویڈیو پہ LUMS طلباء اور ہوٹل انتظامیہ پہ ایف آئی آر درج ہوئی ہے https://t.co/sH5QV9k7sD pic.twitter.com/UQu1Uw4e54
— Usman Manzoor (@usmanmanzoor) January 6, 2021
The case has been lodged under the loudspeaker act and Section 294 of the Pakistan Penal Code. SHO Javed Iqbal is the complainant. He said they took action after a video of 30 to 40 people dancing went viral on all the social media platforms last week.
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After the verification, they got to know the group of students who had visited the resort last month where the accused provided them with loudspeakers to hold a dance party which violated the SOPs.
A few days ago the video was widely shared on social media. Several social media users opined that such activities would promote tourism in Pakistan. However, the arrest of the hotel owner and manager has disappointed a few people. People believe that such deterrence from Police will discourage foreign tourists from coming to Pakistan.
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The arrest also gives a bad impression that Pakistan only welcomes serious tourists for sightseeing since they are not allowed to organize or partake in any fun activities. It also exhorts the image of Pakistan as a conservative society, with several cultural restrictions.
Be warned tourists – no fun allowed when touring Pakistan! We only welcome serious, dour, straitlaced tourists to come and spend money in the country! If you want fun (Dubai is 2 hours away – feel free to go there)https://t.co/PIEWeepPrc
— Najma Minhas (@MinhasNajma) January 7, 2021
While the current government is making efforts to thrive tourism in Pakistan, such deterrence from the local administration to domestic tourists might disappoint the foreign tourists from coming to Pakistan.
Others said that foreign or local tourists visiting places must consider and follow the social and cultural values of that region in order to avoid any unfortunate incidents.