Images

Social media divided over Cafe Flo's alleged discrimination against motorbiker
Local

Social media divided over Cafe Flo's alleged discrimination against motorbiker

Was Cafe Flo justified in its decision to bar the entry of customer on suspicions of a security threat?
Images Staff
Updated 04 Aug, 2016

A controversy erupted on social media last night as a man named Waqar Siddiqui accused a fine dining restaurant in Karachi, Cafe Flo for barring his entry because he arrived on the premises on a motorbike.

In a Facebook post last night, Siddiqui claimed that he was not allowed inside the restaurant because "[he] came on [a] bike."

"You are now judged on your ride," he claimed.

Cafe Flo responded a few hours later with an explanation, citing "security issues" as the real reason behind Waqar's barred entry.

"Considering the fact that we unfortunately live in a city that is prone to violence, attacks and terrorism one cannot be too careful in the name of security for our customers," read their statement.

Given the absence of CCTV footage, the alleged case of discrimination has become a 'he-said-she-said' case. Social media is understandably divided on the matter.

Some weren't convinced by Cafe Flo's explanation:

However, some Flo regulars claim that they've never encountered discirimination when they've used public transport:

Others believe that Flo had the right to reserve admission:

Some insist that CCTV footage alone can allow us to get to the bottom of the matter:

Comments

mahjabeen rizvi Aug 04, 2016 12:08pm
war of inferior complexities harbored by both cafe owners and bikers
Recommend (0)
Farhan Aug 04, 2016 12:10pm
What a flimsy explanantion ! This is economic apartheid, exercised freely in Pakistan. Were they carrying weapons ? Couldn't the guard check them before letting them in ? Truth is the guard was emboldened by the fact that they showed up on a bike. Would he have denied entry to guys arriving in Land Cruisers ?
Recommend (0)
Waqar Aug 04, 2016 12:50pm
What is the guarantee that these guys were asking about milkshake and coffee, and who gave the right to the guard asking about what you wanted ? Guard can politely request to park bike outside, this will not look awkward but asking about question is not the right , anyways respects is the fundamental rights for everyone but unfortunately we major it with the look and feel and model of the car!!!! Sorry
Recommend (0)
usman Aug 04, 2016 01:25pm
flo or any other establishment has every right to deny services or entry as they please
Recommend (0)
Dija Aug 04, 2016 01:26pm
Till the time the person did not misbehave the hotel management specially the guard had no right to ill treat the person; it just depicts a shallow mind set of an upstart crowd...to me the explanation provided by the management holds no substance....if I was to believe this, all the young boys getting down from nice cars who sit for hours ordering only a cup of coffee should also be stopped and questioned the same way- only if that guard and the management have the guts to adopt the same attitude towards the affluent class also.
Recommend (0)
Abdul Majeed Sheikh Aug 04, 2016 02:00pm
Is this really a issue
Recommend (0)
analyses Aug 04, 2016 02:20pm
Well Cafe flo does that kind of discrimination based on many other things as well. I was not allowed to enter with my wife as we were carrying our 3 months old baby who was peacefully sleeping. They said less than 5 years old kids are not allowed. Now we can't go to that restaurant for 5 years just because their 'esteemed' guests are troubled by infants.
Recommend (0)
LetMeIn Aug 04, 2016 02:29pm
So apparently they're so proactive in terms of providing security to the customers, still they dont have a CCTV installed on the main entrance??
Recommend (0)
natey Aug 04, 2016 02:32pm
im witht the cafe..the guys were acting suspiciously......maybe robbers or suicide bombers...dont regret later..be safety first
Recommend (0)
Ieejay Aug 04, 2016 04:05pm
@natey suicide bombers cant come in a car ?suicide bombers cant be well dress? If someone want boom the cafe he will come with the planning
Recommend (0)
SAIMA Aug 04, 2016 04:08pm
if they are so concerned about customers security why don't they have any cctv footage? baseless justifications and why cant customers ask "milkshake hai", whats wrong in that. this itself proves discrimination exists big times!
Recommend (0)
Muddasir Aug 04, 2016 04:46pm
What if i came on Ducati or Harley Davidson??? Will i get entry?
Recommend (0)
Aam Aadmi Aug 04, 2016 05:39pm
If guard at the entrance really concerned about the security of the customers then why he did not alert law enforcement agencies about this suspicious looking chap? Why guard concluded to label this person as a would be terrorist? Truth is that they just don't want a commoner from other side of the bridge to cross that famous clifton bridge.
Recommend (0)
Jack sparrow Aug 04, 2016 05:50pm
The world has become a crazy place. I think the guard posted there had every right to take a call based on his perception of danger. We like it or not, but almost all instances of snatching and street crimes are being carried out on bikes, as they are easy and quick to navigate. When we see eateries and malls coming under terrorist attack in various parts of the world almost every fortnight, the guard must have reasons to be suspicious when he saw guys coming on bikes. could have been handled in a better way by both sides. Although cant blame the guard but any of the 2 sides should have tried to handle the situation by involving the management.
Recommend (0)
TINA Aug 04, 2016 07:08pm
So all those who are earnestly advocating the Cafe's stance agree with Trump too when he openly asks of barring the entering of Muslims in US merely due to "security reasons"? He is also suspicious of Muslims right? We as a nation should avoid double standards.
Recommend (0)
Arij Aug 05, 2016 06:23am
@analyses Your baby could have woken up anytime, in the restaurant and started bawling and making a nuisance. I have experienced that in several places. You were quite rightly stopped. That is why restaurants have ' Rights of Admission Reserved ' posted outside the premises.
Recommend (0)
Danish Aug 05, 2016 10:14am
@Ieejay right
Recommend (0)
Danish Aug 05, 2016 10:15am
@usman no, they don't until they have a valid reason
Recommend (0)
Danial Aug 09, 2016 01:00am
If the guy went there just to hang out with his friends and was treated with rudeness then I think the better thing to do from the cafe's side is to simply apologize for the inconvenience that the young lad had to face regardless whether or not it was a security measure.
Recommend (0)

Read This Next

Latest

Most Popular