Ban on entry of maids, servants in elite clubs lifted

Minister of State for Interior Shehryar Afridi says symbols of elitism and colonial mindset will be removed

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday ordered to remove a ban on entry of maids and servants in elite clubs and the practice would start from the Islamabad Club – an exclusive, semi-government club located in the heart of the capital.

Minister of State for Interior Shehryar Afridi made the announcement on Twitter.

Symbols of Elitism & colonial mindset will be removed. PMIK has ordered to remove the ban on entry of maids/servants in elite clubs i.e.starting from Isb club. Rather we should hv been thankful to them for carrying our weights. Abolish boundaries made in name of wealth, color etc pic.twitter.com/IgalVbyRvg

— Shehryar Afridi (@ShehryarAfridi1) January 30, 2019

“Symbols of elitism and colonial mindset will be removed,” said the minister in his message on the social networking website.

According to Afridi, “We should have been thankful to them [maids and servant] for carrying our weights. [We must] abolish boundaries made in [the] name of wealth, colour etc.”

The debate surrounding rights of admission at exclusive clubs and eateries is an old and controversial one, especially in the capital.



The debate was particularly reignited in 2017 after an image from Islamabad Club – which counts among its members’ senior government bureaucrats, politicians and diplomats – showed a board which barred the entry of maids and helpers beyond a certain point.

“Maids, Ayas are not allowed beyond this point,” the board read in bold lettering.

The board was put up near the pool of the elite club.

The image went viral on social media with comparisons being drawn with the colonial past of the region where certain clubs did not allow the entry of natives or pets.