Twitter Questions Pak’s Priorities as it Bans V-Day Media Coverage

Happy Valentine’s Day (Not)!

On Wednesday, 7 February, Pakistan’s media regulator banned television channels and radio stations from broadcasting any programs related to Valentine's Day.

The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority’s (PEMRA) Twitter handle directed the media organisations to ensure that nothing about the celebrations of Valentine’s Day is spread on the Electronic and Print media. It also advised them to desist from anything that promotes Valentine’s Day.

Reminder in pursuance of order passed by Hon'ble Islamabad High Court regarding stoppage of promotion of Valentine's Day on media. pic.twitter.com/AejorEpWp5

— Report PEMRA (@reportpemra) February 7, 2018

The reason given for this ban was that Valentine’s Day is against the teachings of Islam. Abdul Waheed, a petitioner, had filed a case in early 2017 contending that the celebration of Valentine's Day was spreading "immorality, nudity and indecency" in Pakistan.

As a result, on 13 February 2017 Judge Shaukat Siddiqui issued a binding notice ordering a complete ban on any broadcast programming related to Valentine's Day, as well as other restrictions. The ban continues this year.

While most people were disappointed and questioned the priorities of the Pakistan government, there were some who welcomed the ban, for similar and varied reasons.

Here’s how the Pakistanis reacted to the big V-Day ban.

It’s all About Priorities!

Air interviews of terrorists, give airtime to terrorist apologists, interviews of people like Noreen Leghari, let media harass grieving victims, but something as silly and random as Valentine's Day gets banned by PEMRA & Islamabad High Court. Well done. Truly outstanding stuff. https://t.co/NFo9nsvNbK

— Mahwash Ajaz (@mahwashajaz_) February 7, 2018

Priorities priorities. No answer 4 umpteeen tweets on children s programming, awareness programmes, education, health, child protection, poverty alleviation, child brothels, drugs in schools, on streets, kidnappings, rapes, death. THIS seriously THIS is the priority. Aray ji PLZ! https://t.co/DTmD0qh6w5

— Nadia Jamil (@NJLahori) February 7, 2018

There are better things to worry about than worrying about a day that literally just spreads love. Grt your priorities straight

— Aimy (@FangirlAimy) February 7, 2018

PEMRA stops #ValentinesDay coverage on the orders of Isb High Court

While killers of #MashalKhan are acquitted by Anti-Terrorism Court #SpreadLoveNotHate #HappyValentinesDay #HappyValentinesToIsbHC https://t.co/HIDvHUTJc0

— Gharidah Farooqi (@GFarooqi) February 7, 2018

I mean hate speech, blasphemy, terror, democracy, but Hallmark cards, that’s gotta stop. https://t.co/GX0idfI5xw

— Saim Saeed (@saimsaeed847) February 7, 2018

This country can’t figure out priorities https://t.co/Spu9BhK0O0

— Aly علی (@JholayLal110) February 8, 2018

Woaaah, now Pakistan will move forward and be in the list of developed countries soon. Aik intehai ehm issue pa kabu pa lia gaya hay, guises. Poverty, hate speech, terrorism ka khatama ho chuka hay. Applause. https://t.co/W5TTWnIFn4

— Gone Girl (@TheBon_Viveur) February 7, 2018

Media can telecast the interview and statements of Ehsanullah Ehsan, Soofi Mohammad of #TTP and programs of hatred against religious and sectarian faiths but can’t promote #ValentinesDay which is the message of love. @reportpemra should reconsider it #YesToValentinesDay https://t.co/3vu9VzkHCr

— Mustafa Azizabadi (@azizabadi) February 7, 2018

Pakistan.
Give airtime to terrorists n their sympathizers like former taliban spokesman, mullah burka n orya maqbools. All is fine in the world
+Try n give airtime to Valentine's Day celebrations...all hell breaks loose.
=Terrorism is good 👇 https://t.co/h8gXUNgQzW

— Nadia (@BayraGarak) February 7, 2018

Some Call it a Good Step

Ban on Valentines Day coverage. Pemra has directed TV channels not to promote Valentines Day celebrations . 👍👍 pic.twitter.com/z7LmEnLiHO

— Ansar Abbasi (@AnsarAAbbasi) February 7, 2018

Thank you Pemra saving us from those ignorant and lecherous celebration of Valentine day on our Morning shows . Other things attached like merchandise may be good .

— Fozia Siddiqui (@FoziaSid) February 8, 2018

I support ban on this non sense. But not from PEMRA. As i don't like the coverage of valentines day on our TV Channels then i just dont watch TV programming that day.

— Khizr S (@k_sarcastic) February 8, 2018

It is one of the best decisions Taken by Pemra, Now they have to enforce it and a strict action will have to be taken against any channel promoting such events/days.

— Muhammad (@muh_chit) February 8, 2018

Valentine day is neither about love nor about spreasing love but vulgarity & indecency in the society. So called liberty is all what it directs to, #PEMRA deserves standing ovation for such a fine act. #Welldone_PEMRA

— Adnan Afzal (@fairylotus1) February 7, 2018

No Valentine's day celebrations. No promotion on media.
Good decision https://t.co/TKXpYpSRRr

— Mohammad Kamran Khan (@Kamran0175) February 7, 2018

This is neither part of culture nor religion. Why should we celebrate it? Good decision by court.

— M. Husnain Ashraf (@lordhusnain) February 8, 2018

It IS Annoying, But...

I mean, it's an annoying 'holiday' but here goes Pakistan banning Valentine's Day...again. https://t.co/odavTUTg54

— Sophia Saifi (@SophiaSaifi) February 7, 2018

I generally dislike any excuse for excessive consumerism, and realise that Valentine's Day is an imported concept but the reasons for which the IHC judge likely weighed in on this seem quite ridiculous. https://t.co/OGkk2oSZtU

— Isfundiar Kasuri (@idkasuri) February 7, 2018

Let’s Ban it All!

Under what law? You cannot ban love, or is that your next move? If you ban Valentine's Day stuff on TV, how about banning ALL songs about love? All dramas and movies about love. Ban it all. I already don't watch TV, I'll celebrate the day giving red stuff to the kids in my house https://t.co/3n4n9eBSQt

— Mehr Tarar (@MehrTarar) February 7, 2018

Extremely poor decision. Nothing should be banned. Other then Banning TV programmes, mobile signals or Pillion riding (double sawari), what else the Pakistani state is doing.? Programmes on Valentine day should never be banned. This is 21st century, not the 12th century. https://t.co/kooW8Lpo3Q

— serbuland khan (@serbulandkhan) February 7, 2018

Pemra bans Valentine’s Day in media, army bans The News in Cantonments, plea in LHC to ban Padmaavat...and many more. Our love of the ban is in inverse proportion to the pace of liberalisation afforded by the internet age. What a waste of effort!

— Haroun Rashid (@HarounRashid2) February 8, 2018

Hello, Moral Policing

Moral policing by Pakistani courts https://t.co/rXwxh08P9l

— faraz (@faraz_lhr) February 7, 2018

What is IHC's issue with Valentine's Day? Is it killing people? Is it threatening to damage public property? Is it against constitution of Pakistan? Or is it against basic tenets of Islam? No. Then how can the honorable court ban an economic activity thats good for business? https://t.co/m5uo1syZZI

— Farrukh K. Pitafi (@FarrukhKPitafi) February 7, 2018

More than business, it is an issue of personal freedom.

— Muaaz Ahsan (@MuaazAhsanGeo) February 7, 2018

What Difference Will it Make?

The funniest part? The people who celebrate this day would still celebrate it in full swing. This wont change the social challenges we face! Pemra needs to do something resourceful for once. https://t.co/U3bGaVly29

— Tootsiyah (@Tootsiyah) February 7, 2018

PEMRA has ordered TV channels not to broadcast anything about Valentine's Day, without giving an inkling about what code of conduct it violates. TV stations should wipe their collective asses with the notification,

— Shaheryar Mirza (@mirza9) February 7, 2018