Valentine’s Day Celebrations Banned in Pak by Islamabad High Court

This ruling came after a petition was filed saying that Valentine’s Day promotions are “against Islamic preaching.”

A vendor inflates a heart-shaped balloon from his cart ahead of Valentine’s Day along a road in Karachi, Pakistan in this picture taken in February 2016. (Photo: Reuters)

Every year, as Valentine’s Day approaches, conservative and Islamist parties in Pakistan hold events and rallies to denounce celebrations in the country calling it un-Islamic and against traditional values.

This year, it has been taken one step further. The Islamabad High Court has directed that Valentine’s Day celebrations be banned in the country.

The order came on Monday, a day before the world celebrates love on 14 February.

Pakistani daily Dawn reported that print and electronic media have also been warned to "stop all Valentine's Day promotions immediately”. Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) has been ordered to monitor all mediums and send out notifications banning any such promotions.

This ruling came after a citizen filed a petition saying that the Valentine’s Day promotions on mainstream and social media are “against Islamic preaching and should be banned immediately.” The petition asked for a ban on the celebrations in public places.

Last year, Pakistani President Mamnoon Hussain called for a crack down on V-Day, saying that it “should be avoided as it has no connection with our culture.”

Religious groups and local governments have banned such celebrations several times earlier in many districts of the country, with some even placing an outright ban on cards adorned with hearts last year.

(Source: Dawn)