Pakistani Media Warned Against ‘Promoting’ Valentine’s Day

The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) on Wednesday directed the local media to refrain from promoting and showing celebrations of Valentine’s Day as per an order of the Islamabad High Court (IHC). “The operative para is reproduced hereunder”.

On February 13, 2017, the Islamabad High Court had warned all print and electronic media to stop any promotion related to Valentine’s Day celebrations. “No event shall be held at official level and at any public place“, the media regulator referred to the IHC order in its notification. “Therefore, all broadcast media and distribution services licensees are advised to desist from promoting Valentine’s Day through respective channels/networks“, it added. February 14 is celebrated as Valentine’s Day in whole world.

But the country remains a deeply traditional Muslim society and many disapprove of the holiday as a Western import.

In 2016, Pakistani President Mamnoon Hussain urged people in the Muslim-majority nation not to observe the day, saying that it was a not a Muslim tradition but a Western one.

In the interim order, the judge had sought comments from the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority, Pemra, the ministry of information and broadcasting and chief commissioner Islamabad, but the matter could not be taken up and the petition is still pending adjudication.

“Hate preechers who incite violence in the name of Islam are back on air“.

The celebration has grown popular in some areas in Pakistan, and businesses have used the celebration to promote products.