ISLAMABAD: A man and his wife were not allowed to sit beside each other at a

McDonald

's outlet in Pakistan by managers, who told the couple that such behaviour would have a negative impact on the "Islamic

family atmosphere

" of the outlet.

Noman Ansari, an exporter, said the incident occurred at a McDonald's outlet in Karachi on Sunday when he and his wife decided to stop for a drink.

As Ansari sat down next to his wife and put his arm on the seat behind her shoulder, an employee asked him to move to the chair opposite to her.

When Ansari asked the employee why he couldn't sit next to his wife, the employee replied, "Sir, this is a family restaurant. Couples sitting together is against the policy of McDonald's Pakistan, as it goes against the family atmosphere of the restaurant." Even after Ansari said that they were married, the employee said, "I am sorry sir, but you can't sit side by side."

The incident has sparked a fresh debate on Islamic hardliners trying to mould public behaviour and thinking in line with their own

puritanical beliefs

.