The court order stated that festivities related to Valentine's Day have been banned in public places as well as on an official level. (Representational Image)

Islamabad: A Pakistani high court on Monday banned Valentine's Day celebrations across the country and its promotion on social media, after accepting a petition which argued that it was ‘un-Islamic.’

The order was issued by the Islamabad High Court on the petition submitted by a citizen Abdul Waheed, whose political affiliation was not immediately known. The Islamabad High Courtimposed a ban on Valentine's Day celebrations in public places and government offices across Pakistan, The Dawn reports.The Federal Ministry of Information, Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) and the Islamabad High Commission have been told by Justice Shaukat Aziz, who was hearing the case, to submit their replies regarding the immediate execution of the court's orders.Print and electronic media have also been warned to "stop all Valentine's Day promotions immediately", while Pemra has been ordered to monitor all mediums and send out notifications banning any related promotion. The order prohibits the display of adverts on electronic and print media that reference Valentine's Day, bans the sale of associated merchandise and states that the day cannot be celebrated in "any public space or government building." Last year, President Mamnoon Hussain had also urged the nation not to celebrate Valentine`s Day and said that it has no connection with the country`s culture and should be avoided.
The Islamabad High Court indefinitely bans the celebration of Valentine's Day in Pakistan.