Local authorities have detained a man in a mental hospital after he attempted to establish Pakistan’s first gay club in the conservative city of Abbottabad. The man, whose identity has not been disclosed, applied with the local deputy commissioner to open the club, advocating it as a valuable resource for homosexual, bisexual, and even some heterosexual individuals residing in Abbottabad and other parts of Pakistan.
The man’s application emphasized that a prominent notice would be displayed at the club, clearly stating that no sexual activity would be permitted on the premises. This measure aimed to ensure compliance with all laws, including Section 377 of Pakistan’s Penal Code, which criminalizes same-sex relations.
The deputy commissioner’s office in Abbottabad confirmed to the Telegraph newspaper that they had received the application for the gay club and were reviewing it like any other business proposal, without any special consideration or prejudice.
However, the application was leaked on social media, sparking a strong backlash and outrage from residents and politicians in the conservative northern province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. A leader of the Right-wing Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PATY) warned of “very severe consequences” if the club was granted permission.
A leader of the conservative religious Jamiat Ulema Islam (JUI) party in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provincial assembly claimed that the man behind the proposal had recently returned from a visit to the UK.
On May 9, the man who filed the application was transferred to the Sarhad Hospital for psychiatric diseases in Peshawar. His friends have expressed extreme concern for his safety, stating that they have been blocked from visiting him or obtaining further information about his condition.
This incident has ignited a broader debate about LGBTQ.
