PEMRA directs local media to refrain from promoting Valentine’s Day

ISLAMABAD: 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 IHC, in a verdict passed on a petition submitted by citizen Abdul Waheed on February 13, 2017, had prohibited the celebration of Valentine’s Day in public spaces and government offices across the country “with immediate effect”.

The court had also warned print and electronic media to “stop all Valentine’s Day promotions immediately”.

In 2016, President Mamnoon Hussain urged Pakistanis to not celebrate Valentine’s Day, saying the western tradition is not part of “our culture”.

“We should refrain from observing Valentine’s Day as it has no connection with our culture,” the president stated adding that blind following of western traditions will lead to a degradation of “our values”, just as it has led to several problems including an increase in attacks against women in a neighbouring country.