Pakistan's Hypocrite President &Valentine’s day - ''No Love Lost''

The elusive President Mamnoon Hussain is rarely seen in public, and when he does make an appearance it is brief; he inaugurates this, christens that, and meekly returns to the President House. The President’s voice is reserved for matters of grave national importance; he urged PML-N and the PTI to make peace during the dharna, he cautioned the parliament over involvement in the Yemen war, and now he has lend his ponderous opinion to another crisis, Valentine’s day. Wearing a red tie and a scarlet pocket square the president denounced Valentine’s day as a “western tradition” that goes against Muslim values. The fact that he was wearing a western suit and speaking in a foreign language seemed to escaped the honourable president.

The President’s remarks are based on a very juvenile understanding of Valentine’s day and Pakistani culture, and his wildly speculative statements – such as linking the day to the increase in sexual crimes in India – is not only incorrect but ill befitting a person of his office. The expression of endearment towards loved ones is in no way against the culture of the subcontinent, or any culture for that matter. The most famous subcontinent literature pieces are epic love ballads like ‘Heer Ranjha’, and songs – folk and otherwise – treat love as their favourite subject matter. If literature and custom – the two most prominent indicators of ‘culture’ are rife with celebration of love, what makes Valentine’s Day so detestable? Does Mamnoon Husain object to the marriage anniversaries, birthday parties and a general exchange of gifts too, or is his ire reserved only for romantic relationships? Mr President needs to understand, Valentine’s Day is not all dance parties and dinner dates, and even if it was, he has no right no reason to object to it.

It is these kinds of puritanical actions that paint Pakistan as an extremist country. Western newspapers are having a field day with the President’s words, and will continue to do so. The President should stick to what he knows best; cutting ribbons and shaking important hands.