APROPOS your editorial ‘Punjab dance ban’ (March 14). The central point of the editorial was that imposing a ban on dance at schools was unjust and unfair.

The premise that dance is a sporting activity and banning it would hamper physical growth of children is ridiculous. The point that banning dance is equal to bowing down to the extremists’ narrative is hilarious.

No denying the fact that dance is a healthy activity, but one should also know that the very connotation of dance has been negative in our society.

Moreover, dance is not the only sort of sports. And the dance ban should be resisted only because it is the narrative of extremists is a poor point altogether. Allowing activities such as dance is equal to showing the red rag to the bull of extremism.

Ours is not a normal time. We are at war with the evil forces of extremism, sectarianism and other anti-Pakistan forces. If such activities are banned for a certain period, no sky will fall upon our children’s health.

We should wait for good time to demand such cultural activities. For the time being, we should avoid making a non-issue like dance at schools an issue in the best interest of our children’s future.

Shabbir Ahmad Akhtar

Lahore

Published in Dawn, March 17th, 2018