ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad Club, an exclusive club whose membership comprises government officials, diplomats and the elite of the federal capital, has allegedly barred its employees from entering mosques on the pretext that “it is only meant for the members of the club”. According to an available official email of the Islamabad Club’s Human Resource section circulated to all sections of the club, all employees are strictly abstained for going in only (one) mosque established at the club. The information suggests that the decision was made in a recent meeting of Human Resource Manager (HRM) Committee of the IC. The committee consists on Sikandar Ismail Khan as its convener and Shahzad Ahmed as member. “As decided in the meeting, kindly instruct all your staff members to refrain from going into the guest prayer area (mosque) as it is only meant for our members only. Compliance will be much appreciated,” read the email. It added that this was done on the directives of the Islamabad Club Administrator Shahid Khan, who is is also principal secretary to the president of Pakistan. When contacted, Shahid Khan refused to comment over the issue. “I don’t want to give you any kind of statement,” he said. Sikandar Islamail, however, said that no such decision was taken on his part. When asked about the email circulated among staffers in this regard, he said: “I am not in a position to comment over this, you may contact administrator.” An official in the club, who wished to remain unnamed, alleged that a large number of people have their interests in the club. “This is why, they are using current administration as a tool to spoil the reputation of the club.” Under the Islamabad Club Ordinance, 1978, President of Pakistan is patron-in-chief of the club while the Capital Administration and Development Division (CADD) secretary is ex-officio member of its managing committee. The club is purely an autonomous entity while the CADD is responsible for issuing notifications to the club administration as per instructions of the president after the passage of 18th Amendment. Currently, there are more than 900 employees of the club. All of them have voiced concern over the instruction, banning them from offering prayers at the mosque. Earlier, the club’s administration had barred entry of housemaids and helpers beyond a certain point. “Maids, Ayas are not allowed beyond this point,” read a board put up near a pool at the club. Another official of the Islamabad Club, requesting anonymity, said that such decisions would promote class system within the club. “Self-respect is the main thing and ignoring one’s ego and disrespecting them should not be allowed anywhere.” Renowned human rights activist and academic Farzana Bari also condemned such sort of class discrimination. “Already our poor class of society is being treated as a marginalised segment. We are already divided into many religious groups while such kind of directives might set a precedent to follow this approach at anywhere else.” “The authorities concerned should take a serious action against this sheer violation of fundamental human rights,” she suggested. Published in Daily Times, January 10th 2018.