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  Don’t observe Valentine’s Day: Pakistan President Hussain

Don’t observe Valentine’s Day: Pakistan President Hussain

PTI
Published : Feb 14, 2016, 5:39 am IST
Updated : Feb 14, 2016, 5:39 am IST

Pakistan President Mamnoon Hussain asked his countrymen to avoid observing Valentine’s Day, saying the western tradition was not part of “our culture”.

Pakistan President Mamnoon Hussain asked his countrymen to avoid observing Valentine’s Day, saying the western tradition was not part of “our culture”.

“We should avoid Valentine Day as it has no connection with our culture,” Mr Hussain said while addressing a gathering of students — mostly girls — on the death anniversary of freedom movement leader Sardar Abdur Rab Nishtar in Islamabad. Mr Hussain said that a blind following of western traditions will lead to a degradation of “our values”, and has led to several problems including increase in attacks against women in a neighbouring country.

Mr Hussain on Friday also said that Pakistan could achieve progress by adopting the philosophies of its great leaders. His rhetoric against Valentine’s Day came a day after the local elected council in Peshawar and Kohat district banned its celebration.

“There is no need to designate a special day where people give cards, chocolates and gifts to each other,” district council chairman Maulana Niaz Mohammad said. “Valentine’s Day has become a common and unnecessary part of our culture.”

The celebration on February 14 has often been criticised by Islamists as an “insult” to Islam. The police, however, said that the ban cannot be enforced as legally there is no bar on celebrating Valentine’s Day.

Location: Pakistan, Islamabad