Pakistan Disallows Valentine’s Day Calling It “Insult” To Islam

KABUL: (MEP) The president of Pakistan Mamnoon Hussain criticizing Valentine’s Day on Saturday calling it an absolute “Insult” to Islam and against the Pakistani culture.

“Pakistani culture and Islam does not allow celebrating such an event” President Mamnoon added.

“Valentine’s Day has no connection with our culture,” said Mamnoon, adding that the celebration should be avoided. The president also asked Pakistani students to “always maintain their religious and national identity,” according to a news release from his office.

However, many Pakistanis yet celebrate Valentine’s Day. Shops and street vendors sell cards, flowers and balloons. Some businesses and restaurants offer Feb. 14-themed deals.

Earlier this week, the local government in Kohat, in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, told police officers to stop shops from selling Valentine’s Day cards and items.

Meanwhile, the Peshawar local council also passed a resolution to ban celebrations of what it called a “useless” day.

The Jamaat-e-Islami, one of Pakistan’s largest Islamist parties, is organizing several events across the country, asking people to instead celebrate “Modesty Day” on Sunday. A few dozen women from the party held a protest against Valentine’s Day in the eastern city of Lahore on Friday, holding banners that read “Boycott Valentine’s Day” and “Save Our Values”.

“Valentine’s Day has no place in Pakistani, Islamic, or even regional values. Promoting such events will mislead and destroy our young generation,” said the Jamaat-e-Islami’s Khalid Waqas Chamkani, a district councilor in the northwestern city of Peshawar.