In Islamabad: “You can’t eat here because you are Pakistani”

[DV RULES]

Frankly i will support this idea because uncultured & hypocrites shouldn't be allowed in free selection premises.

 

[RescueRanger]

Frankly i will support this idea because uncultured & hypocrites shouldn't be allowed in free selection premises.

I wonder what the reaction had been if this were say the US or Europe? Headline news? banning someone based on nationality is actually "discrimination", there is nothing positive about "discrimination".

 

[qamar1990]

I didn’t hear about journalist Cyril Almeida’s investigation and subsequent tweets against the restaurant ‘La Maison’ through the news or any blogs he might have written. I heard about it from my friends on Facebook, people who are otherwise active in liberal circles and rightfully vocal against the many injustices of Pakistani society.

But the injustice that they were complaining about was Almeida’s outrage that a restaurant in Islamabad bans Pakistanis unless they hold a dual nationality.

Read that again.

They were complaining about his actions, not the restaurant’s policies.

Their complaints varied from ‘why the fuss?’ to ‘why the hue and cry about racism?’ After all, aren’t Pakistanis themselves one of the most racist lot on this planet? And if you can’t go to that place due to the misfortune of just being a Pakistani in Pakistan, then go somewhere else.

Why start a whole Twitter campaign against the restaurant or question the legality of its policy?

Perhaps you’re just envious or perhaps you just really want some attention from those white people to feel good about yourself.

Yes, that definitely must be it.

The restaurant, for its part, insists this policy is out of respect for ‘Muslim sensibilities’ since its menu consists entirely of non-halal food.

Interestingly enough, those ‘Muslim sensibilities’ don’t matter when it comes to hiring someone to assist in cooking, serving and cleaning up after this non-halal food, nor is it something worth mentioning when looking for a bartender.

So what they’re saying is that it’s acceptable to hire Muslim/Pakistani waiters who will handle non-halal food but Muslim/Pakistani customers aren’t allowed, and this is their way of respecting us?

The owner, Philippe Lafforgue, even went through the trouble of emailing Almeida, ending with words,

“By the way this weekend I was reading the ads in the newspaper and all the ads for renting houses in Islamabad were for foreigners and multinational companies only. Swedish villas in Lahore are only rented to foreigners. They refuse Pakistani people. The International club in Lahore and Sindh Club in Karachi do not accept Pakistani people, even as a guest. If I go to the Diplomatic Enclave, all I’ll have to do is show my passport. Whereas you will have to get a ticket, pay the fees and go by bus. The guest house right close to mine is reserved for Chinese people only. I will stop here because I don’t want to waste your time. But yes, there is a lot of discrimination in this country. But I don’t…”

(This excerpt was edited for readability)

After reading this, I was reminded of a time when it was acceptable in this part of the world to say:

‘No natives allowed in here… unless they’re serving you your tea’

But I guess you can’t say it in those words anymore since there are ways to get around such technicalities.

Also, since when did ‘Pakistani’ become synonymous with ‘Muslim’?

How does possession of a dual nationality make a difference if they are in fact Muslims? Where do the ‘sensibilities’ fit in in such cases? When did they start making exceptions towards racism depending on who you were discriminating against?



I realised how factual and spot on, Lafforgue and some of my friends’ words were. Pakistanis really aren’t allowed in the Diplomatic Enclave of their ‘own’ country and entire chunks of our provinces effectively belong to either militants or foreign corporations. Meanwhile, a more subtle form of colonisation quietly makes its way through our culture.

Our repeatedly revised history is just as murky as our future and we’ve learnt that things work out better for us if we just keep our heads low and plod through the confusion without asking too many questions.

Pakistani sovereignty is practically a myth, adorning our self-image like the emperor’s new clothes. We can’t really see it but the crafty tailors stitching together our official state narrative insist it’s there.

There are more than 180 million people living on this little strip of land we call home. If racism is widespread and if elitist oppression is rampant, does that mean we should stop no one from being a racist or an elitist simply because we can’t stop everyone?

Does that mean people that who are minimally affected by the status quo (people who already belong to the elite or as in this case people who have that oh-so-coveted proof they are ‘good enough to not be a Pakistani’) can joke about how amusing it is that the rest of us call such things unfair?

Is it okay for us to dismiss such discrimination simply as a part and parcel of being ‘ordinary Pakistanis’?

What were the struggles of the independence movement if not to allow us a chance to live free and not be treated like squatters in our own homeland? Where is the country that supposedly resulted from this?

Where is my Pakistan?


In Islamabad: “You can’t eat here because you are Pakistani” – The Express Tribune Blog

what the fuuck, kick them out, they come to our land, and not allow us, who are they, some imperialist bastards?

p.s. didn't copy the tweet from the link.

the government needs to shut a restaurant or any place like this down.
these politicians of ours are such evil son of bitches that they don't even have a bit of pity on their people. may these scums of the earth burn in the deepest pits of hell.

even non muslims like me can't go ? i am ok with wine and pork meat

its not about religion this time i guess.
this is just ridiculous, anybody supporting this restaurant deserves to locked away and the keys thrown out.

 

[DV RULES]

I wonder what the reaction had been if this were say the US or Europe? Headline news? banning someone based on nationality is actually "discrimination", there is nothing positive about "discrimination".

Sir, i hope you will understand my words in actual meanings, issue is they are not allowing Pakistanis to enter there so the reasons also clear but by default ignoring many harsh realities of our life we rushed to criticize but in fact problem is for those who can afford alcoholic products (not haram but prohibited according to Islam) and couldn't get entertainment as they desired because in general Pakistani don't know how to behave and usually are showing vulgar attitude. So if they well come only foreigners than why there is so much cry? there are lot of luxury restaurants so any body can go and get entertainment. If someone wants to to serve only foreigners that i don't think there is any problem an even that's not discrimination but policy of business.

 

[RescueRanger]

Sir, i hope you will understand my words in actual meanings, issue is they are not allowing Pakistanis to enter there so the reasons also clear but by default ignoring many harsh realities of our life we rushed to criticize but in fact problem is for those who can afford alcoholic products (not haram but prohibited according to Islam) and couldn't get entertainment as they desired because in general Pakistani don't know how to behave and usually are showing vulgar attitude. So if they well come only foreigners than why there is so much cry? there are lot of luxury restaurants so any body can go and get entertainment. If someone wants to to serve only foreigners that i don't think there is any problem an even that's not discrimination but policy of business.

Sir,

At 15,000 for a glass of chardonnay, how many Pakistanis do you think will be at this venue? And people defending this place act like it's the only place selling booze? What about Royal palm, UN Club, Islamabad Club, Marina Club, Avari, Flashman, PC, Marriott?

Also I have said this before and will say it again, if it only wishes to cater for foreigners it should relocate within the diplomatic enclave...

 

[qamar1990]

Sir,

At 15,000 for a glass of chardonnay, how many Pakistanis do you think will be at this venue? And people defending this place act like it's the only place selling booze? What about Royal palm, UN Club, Islamabad Club, Marina Club, Avari, Flashman, PC, Marriott?

Also I have said this before and will say it again, if it only wishes to cater for foreigners it should relocate within the diplomatic enclave...

if anybody opened up a restaurant in washington dc and said that only foreigners are allowed, the government would that that place down with a week

Sir, i hope you will understand my words in actual meanings, issue is they are not allowing Pakistanis to enter there so the reasons also clear but by default ignoring many harsh realities of our life we rushed to criticize but in fact problem is for those who can afford alcoholic products (not haram but prohibited according to Islam) and couldn't get entertainment as they desired because in general Pakistani don't know how to behave and usually are showing vulgar attitude. So if they well come only foreigners than why there is so much cry? there are lot of luxury restaurants so any body can go and get entertainment. If someone wants to to serve only foreigners that i don't think there is any problem an even that's not discrimination but policy of business.

so you saying its ok for somebody to come to our country and build a restaurant and then deny our people service?

 

[DV RULES]

Sir,

At 15,000 for a glass of chardonnay, how many Pakistanis do you think will be at this venue? And people defending this place act like it's the only place selling booze? What about Royal palm, UN Club, Islamabad Club, Marina Club, Avari, Flashman, PC, Marriott?

Also I have said this before and will say it again, if it only wishes to cater for foreigners it should relocate within the diplomatic enclave...

Well, diplomatic enclave also in territory of Pakistan except Airports so on which ground in diplomatic enclave Pakistani entry could be prohibited and rest of land open for them?

 

[RescueRanger]

if anybody opened up a restaurant in washington dc and said that only foreigners are allowed, the government would that that place down with a week


so you saying its ok for somebody to come to our country and build a restaurant and then deny our people service?

I know that is why I'm so furious, this kind of thing would never be tolerated anywhere else.

Well, diplomatic enclave also in territory of Pakistan except Airports so on which ground in diplomatic enclave Pakistani entry could be prohibited and rest of land open for them?

Diplomatic Enclave is for diplomats and expats, there is already another exclusive french restaurant there:
Cordon Rouge Cordon Rouge - Islamabad, Pakistan - French Restaurant, Bar | Facebook

 

[DV RULES]

so you saying its ok for somebody to come to our country and build a restaurant and then deny our people service?

That's not denial but business strategy.

 

[qamar1990]

That's not denial but business strategy.

thats discrimination.
no country on earth would allow this besides sorry *** pakistan.

 

[DV RULES]

Diplomatic Enclave is for diplomats and expats, there is already another exclusive french restaurant there:
Cordon Rouge Cordon Rouge - Islamabad, Pakistan - French Restaurant, Bar | Facebook

btw, it's not bothering me if someone serving only foreigners even if it was in Lahore or Islamabad etc. Surely i couldn't find traditional dishes we used to eat so why should i think what's their business and with whom.!

 

[RescueRanger]

btw, it's not bothering me if someone serving only foreigners even if it was in Lahore or Islamabad etc. Surely i couldn't find traditional dishes we used to eat so why should i think what's their business and with whom.!

Last i checked Kung Pao chicken and pasta alfredo are not traditional Pakistani dishes, but we still eat those don't we? I'm sorry but your logic behind defending this practice is moot.

 

[AZADPAKISTAN2009]

Well provided the visitor follows buiness dress code and buys certain amount of food they should be allowed in , Pakistanis on Priority basis

The restruant just needs to maintain proper separation of food preparation and dish cleaning mechanism for Pakistani customers and French/International customers

How preposterous, that Pakistani Citizens are denied access to expensive restaurants we save millions to spend on items like this

 

[Liquidmetal]

There is difference between French crowd and Pakistanis (thats why differential treatment)
You will burn the place down if they tell you that they serve Non halal and pork.
no one willingly bars certain section of society and cut down his target customers but as i mentioned in this case the owner is against uncivilized, adamant crowd which relates every thing to religion.

Hey mate I know u r an indian but u don't have to talk shit all the time. I know in India it is common to discriminate people on the basis of their birth but in PK we carved our country from ur belly so that we would not have to face this kind of illegal bullshit. So while PK is still our country we want to make sure that no area no place should treat our people like ur disgraceful treatment of the untouchables and other lowly castes. Coming back to this restaurant, the owner as all owners of any public establishment do have a right to choose who can come in. Most nightclubs have bouncers and they can choose to let u in or not. However to have a blanket racist policy of this nature is abhorrent.

 

[RescueRanger]

This is just a caution for Pakistanis, which are generally considered to be Muslims, that the food is not halal so they should go elsewhere. There is no racism here.

Then why refuse entry to a Pakistani CHRISTIAN?