'Lucky Circus' organizers sent packing
Report Waqar Ahmed CHITRAL, June 11: The district administration of Chitral on Monday closed down a ‘Lucky Irani Circus’ set up by some people coming from outside of the district here, on the pressure of a religo-political party. The circus, which was underway at a playground along the river in Denin, had been attracting a large number of crowds for the last a couple of days. People who visited the circus told chitraltoday.net that the organizers had also brought with them transvestites who were performing dance at the circus. The local chapter of Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) reportedly termed the circus a den of obscenity and against the traditions of Chitral. Sources said the party approached the district administration with a request to order the closure of the event. On Monday noon, when some people, including youths, reached the venue of the circus, the organizers were seen dismantling the tents and stages. In the afternoon, activists of Jamaat-i-Islami were seen taking rounds of the Chitral bazaar and Denin area in vehicles mounted with loudspeakers, thanking the district administration for ordering the closure of the circus. It may be noted that a large number of people from other areas of Pakistan, especially Punjab, move to northern parts of the country in the summer to escape the sizzling heat. Many people here said as activities like holding a circus and bringing transvestites for dance was totally alien to the culture of Chitral, such groups should not be allowed to enter the valley in the first place. On the other hand, some people were also of the view that the large presence of spectators at the venue showed that the locals lacked entertainment opportunities and were easily attracted towards such events.]]>