“We should refrain from observing Valentine’s Day as it has no connection with our culture”, the president said while addressing a gathering of students – mostly girls – on the death anniversary of freedom movement leader Sardar Abdur Rab Nishtar in Islamabad the other day.
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Despite its roots as a Christian holiday, Valentine’s Day has gained popularity among Pakistanis, with flower vendors reporting booming sales this year, as in recent years.
Some 40 kilometers further north, in Peshawar, the capital of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province, local authorities also passed a resolution to ban Valentine’s Day celebrations, although it was unclear whether the ban would be enforceable.
Many couples in the country, majority young and some unmarried, have embraced Valentine traditions common in the West, such as giving presents of flowers, cards and chocolates to loved ones. “Valentine’s Day has become a common and unnecessary part of our culture”.
It is pertinent to mention here that, earlier this week, there were media reports (although unconfirmed) that Valentine’s Day gifts had been banned in the capital Islamabad. The celebrations, although popular in some Pakistani cities, have repeatedly been criticized by hardliners who warn about the spread of un-Islamic Western values, The Express Tribune reports. Now that it’s becoming increasingly global, Pakistan’s commercial sector is trying to capitalize off of it.
Valentine’s Day is right around the corner, but not everyone plans to celebrate.
Kohat is located near Pakistan’s tribal area, which is known for its conservative Muslim majority population.
This won’t be the first year that February 14 has sparked outrage.
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She was killed in a drive-by shooting in 2015.
