A street seller in Islamabad appeared to flout the ban last year

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The romantic celebration was outlawed last year after a member of the public started a petition claiming it was a Western cultural import that is “against the teachings of Islam”.

Valentine’s Day, named after a Christian saint who died for love, was banned by an Islamabad High Court after years of the event slowly gaining in popularity.

Abdul Waheed filed his case in early 2017 claiming Valentine’s Day was spreading “immorality, nudity and indecency”.

Pakistan’s president Mamnoon Hussian said during the case: “Valentine’s Day has no connection with our culture and it should be avoided.”