Pakistan may ban Valentine’s Day celebrations in Islamabad

Celebrations have often been disrupted in the past by supporters of hardline Jamaat-e-Islami but it is for the first time that the state has intervened to ban the festivities.

Pakistan may ban all activities linked to the celebration of Valentine’s Day in its capital Islamabad. Valentine’s Day celebrations have often been criticised by Islamists as an ‘insult’ to Islam.

An interior ministry official said that the decision to ban the celebrations was taken at the interior minister Nisar Ali Khan’s order.

The ban has, however, not been officially announced. It will be enforced through capital administration and a formal notification will be issued by the Islamabad deputy commissioner, said the official.

Celebrations have often been disrupted in the past by supporters of hardline Jamaat-e-Islami but it is for the first time that the state has intervened to ban the festivities.