A couple was arrested on Sunday by the police for 'kissing and cuddling' in a car parked at Islamabad’s city center.

The couple was taken to the Karachi Company Police Station under Section 294 of the PPC (Pakistan Penal code) where they were formally booked for ‘obscene acts’. According to local media report, the couple was later released after taken into custody by the SHO (station house officer) Zulfiqar Ahmed who was investigating the case.

SHO said that the couple was busy in embracing each other when the cops reached to arrest them. “The girl was a G-8 resident while the boy lived in Sector G-7. Both were released on bail from the police station” Ahmed said.

SHO Muhammad Basheer also contented on this matter saying that there are more serious crimes apart from such personal issues. “This is a small matter. Media should report about serious crime such as robberies not these trivial things,” he said. Basheer, however, did not respond to further queries.

Several such incidents have happened in the past where police has taken legal action against couples for showing public display of affection (PDA).

In a previous interview to a local tabloid Cutacut, while explaining the laws related to obscene acts, Karachi’s DIG South Azad Khan said, “Let me be straightforward, there are only a few policemen doing this just to extort money from young men and women”.

“There is no law which the police can use to stop couples when they are driving or are found in public places while dating,” he added. The DIG continued that police has no right to file charges against any couple in their private vehicle whether they are dating or not. They didn’t use public place and there is no immorality.

“The law doesn’t permit us to do that. It very clear,” the DIG said. “I will say it again, the police cannot stop couples when they are together. Even if they are getting intimate inside their car, they can’t accuse them because their private vehicle is not a public space” says the DIG.