Severe mismanagement, rowdy behaviour and scenes of chaos overshadowed a New Year’s Eve event held in Islamabad’s Park View City, drawing widespread criticism after videos and images of the incident went viral on social media.
As in previous years, a large family-oriented event had been organised to welcome the New Year. However, the situation deteriorated to such an extent that the organisers appeared unable to maintain control.
Viral footage shows security personnel standing by as spectators, while some youths can be seen pelting stones in their direction.
According to Urdu News, there were no effective arrangements in place to regulate entry or manage the crowd. Typically, such events restrict entry for groups of young men, but this policy appeared to have been ignored.
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In one video, a man can be heard claiming that several individuals forced their way inside without tickets, disregarded security instructions, and repeatedly re-entered after being escorted out.
Some social media users also alleged that ticket prices were excessively high, yet the standard of arrangements did not reflect the cost. Park View City’s management has so far issued no official statement in response to the incident.
Sources further reported incidents of harassment involving women during the unrest. In one widely shared clip, a female reporter is seen reporting from the venue when a piece of cloth suddenly strikes her face, leaving her visibly shaken.
The Park View City site is also known for its dancing fountains, surrounded by protective railings. However, viral videos show some youths uprooting these railings and throwing benches into the water.
The incident has sparked strong reactions online. While many users blamed those involved in vandalism and disorder, others questioned the organisers’ poor planning. Several commentators argued that if the authorities lack the capacity to manage large-scale events, such gatherings should not be organised at all.
