Pakistan's higher education watchdog on Thursday withdrew a letter raising objections over the celebration of the Holi festival at a university here after a backlash on social media and intervention by the government.

Shaista Sohail, the executive director of the Higher Education Commission (HEC), had issued a letter taking exception to the celebration of the festival by the students of Qaudi Azam University in Islamabad. However, the letter invited a barrage of attacks on social media with many people asking about the academic performance of the HEC and suggesting to improve it instead of correcting the morals of the people.