Valentine's Day vs Haya Day: 3 Peshawar University students injured in clash

Thirteen students taken into custody by police.


Afp/web Desk February 14, 2014
"The situation is under control now. Three students were wounded in the clash," says a local police official . PHOTO: REUTERS

PESHAWAR: While one group of students of Peshawar University celebrated Valentine's Day, another celebrated Haya Day (modesty day) leading to a clash that turned violent, Express News reported on Friday.

Students threw rocks at fellow students, forcing the police to intervene. Violence escalated as the students pulled out weapons and started firing at police officers as well.

The police also fired back and thirteen students were taken into custody.

The students also set three rooms of the hostel on fire.

"The situation is under control now. Three students were wounded in the clash," local police official Fazalur Rehman told AFP, adding that police were searching for the students involved to arrest them.

One student had a gunshot wound to his hand, he added.

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Valentine's Day is increasingly popular among younger Pakistanis, many of whom have taken up the custom of giving cards, chocolates and gifts to their sweethearts to celebrate the occasion.

But Pakistan remains a deeply traditional Muslim society where many disapprove of Valentine's Day as a Western import.

COMMENTS (46)

Nobody | 10 years ago | Reply

@Jag Nathan: While I agree with your sentiment and the question you posed to fellow commentator (I thought the same thing), your question is flawed and illogical. The person you responded to said Valentine's Day has no place in Islam, no mention of Pakistan itself; for the sake of my sanity, I will ignore that part of his question and stick to your response. If India is a secular nation as it has claimed for decades, then yes, there is a place for Ramadan and Eid and Christmas and Easter and Hanukkah and all other festivals and holidays of a religious or non religious nature simply because there has to be, whether people want it or not. If and when Pakistan decides to let go of the already barely existing "Sharia" on the books, then theoretically, every festival will have to be accepted and allowed.

The dichotomy among the people of Pakistan is astounding. We do not have to be one or the other; one can be a Pakistani and ALSO have a different belief system (Muslim, Hindu, Christian, Jewish, Atheist, Agnostic, etc). Separating factions of people this way will result in failure. On the contrary, homogenizing a country with more than 190 million people will also result in failure. We don't have to be divided and we don't have to be identical either. Live and let live folks. Cheers.

Dear ET,......please? :)

Jules | 10 years ago | Reply

@Jag Nathan: Boring? Explosions almost every week. Killing almost everyday.

Then the complete opposite end of the spectrum: partying in the wee hours of the night, black market for liquor and hash and a variety of other drugs of choice. Who'd be bored in a place like that?

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