In a video announcement, imams and religious figures from mosques in the southern district of Bannu, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), have called for the prohibition of girls’ participation in sports within educational institutions. They contend that allowing girls to play sports is contributing to the spread of immorality in society.

Per this declaration, imams and scholars have noted that girls from educational institutions engage in sports at the Bannu Sports Complex, where men are also present. Emphasising the dignity of the people of Bannu, it is also asserted that girls should not be allowed to play alongside men. The directive advises educational institutions to refrain from sending girls to participate in sports, as non-compliance may prompt a protest movement against the educational institutions.

In the video, the clerics clarify that they do not oppose girls’ education but advocate for women to pursue studies while adhering to veils and regional customs.

Discussing this issue, Kiran Zahra, a lecturer at FG Degree College Bannu, remarked that women in Bannu lack awareness of their rights, making it unlikely for them to raise their voices.

“The lack of literacy among the majority of men, together with limited perspectives on women and girls, contributes to the exclusion of women from various social activities.”

She says this has happened before; the women-only family park was closed for similar reasons. “Old traditions still control everything here.”

“Men, regardless of their religion, enjoy freedom without facing scrutiny due to their gender privilege. However, women experience a double standard when various groups use religion as a pretext to strip them of basic rights.”

Local journalist Salman Khan, discussing the call for a ban on women playing, said that many restrictions have been imposed on women in Bannu, due to which they are confined to their homes.

He said that women in Bannu lack recreational opportunities to spend leisure time. The district administration tends to listen to the religious groups as the local populace places more trust in the words and decisions of the scholars.
According to Salman, the only park for women was closed last August after students from Ulema Ittihad and Madrassas students protested.

Protests demanding the closure of the park persisted for a week, as the argument remained consistent that the presence of women in the park contributed to the spread of obscenity. The protest to shut down the park began when a group of women arrived at the family park on August 14 last year, with some having to wait outside due to limited space. Subsequently, some boys catcalled the women, leading scholars to initiate a protest asking for the park’s closure. Eventually, the administration agreed to the scholars’ demands.

When contacted regarding this matter, Khalid Muhammad, spokesperson for Commissioner Bannu Division, said that women’s sports events in Bannu are held indoors. He said that it is incorrect to claim that immorality spreads through sports. He also said that segregation of women and men is arranged for whenever the games are held.

“Sometimes the issue is misrepresented for political point-scoring and other reasons.”

This issue originated from a misunderstanding when a photo was shared on social media a few days ago. The caption incorrectly mentioned the Bannu Sports Complex, though the image was unrelated. Following this, scholars convened a meeting and issued a statement proposing the prohibition of women in sports. However, the Assistant Commissioner of Bannu has reached out to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to locate the individual responsible for sharing the image, take appropriate action, and rectify the mistake.

Advocate Tariq Afghan strongly disapproves of the Afghan district administration’s decision. He conveys his displeasure, stating that recent incidents in Bannu, particularly those related to women, are deplorable. According to him, the prohibition of girls’ sports in Bannu or the closure of the family park is the work of those scholars who lack exposure to literature.

“There is no provision in the constitution or law for such restrictions. While there may be reasonable justifications for a state imposing bans, scholars do not possess the authority to enact prohibitions.”

He said that the role of scholars is to guide people toward the right path, not to act as judges imposing their viewpoints.

“I believe this challenges the writ of the state and denies women their rights since the girls are playing amongst themselves without the presence of men.”

Tariq Afghan said that the district administration faces threats from scholars. He urged the administration to fulfil its responsibilities and take action against individuals who cause disturbances in society.

“If anyone challenges the writ of the state, they can be prosecuted under Section 506 of the Pakistan Penal Code, which is punishable with imprisonment for two years, and the accused may also face fines.”