Pakistan's SC dismisses pleas against ban on marriage meals
Pakistan Times Federal Bureau Report

ISLAMABAD: A full bench of the Supreme Court on Monday dismissed petitions seeking review of ban on hosting post-marriage meals by kin of bridegroom, n as Valima.

The SC bench comprised Chief Justice Nazim Hussain Siddiqui, Justice Abdul Hameed Dogar and Justice Tasadduq Hussain Jilani. Petitioner Ch M Siddiq, a caterer, and his counsel Maqbool Illahi Malik did not turn up.

Violations

A citizen, M Hanif Abbasi who earlier pleaded for a ban on hosting Valima, appeared and drew the attention of the court towards violation of the law and its order by certain influential people and towards negligence of the police and law enforcement agencies.

The bench said the federal law, 2000 restored by the apex court bans hosting of Valima even inside homes and serving meals in the guise of Mehndi functions.

The Verdict

The bench held that only those relatives and guests who come from other cities could be served with food at homes. The chief justice observed that law making is responsibility of parliament and implementation on laws duty of the Executive.

He said the SC had restored federal law, 2000 banning hosting of Valima. Under this law, only hot and cold soft drinks could be served at Valima functions, he added.

The bench observed that implementation of the law and acting against those violating the law was responsibility of the provincial and district governments.

When Abbasi pleaded invoking contempt jurisdiction against those violating the order of the court and law of the land, the SC bench warned that severe action could be taken if law and order of the court is not implemented.

'One Dish Valima'

The CJ however observed that legislation is domain of the legislature and implementation of laws the duty of executing authority.

He said the apex court’s function is interpretation of law and the constitution. He held that the SC bench had interpreted the law by declaring that federal law 2000 banning Valima held its feet throughout the country and the Punjab’s legislation permitting one dish Valima was illegal and unconstitutional.

Two identical petitions filed by Ch M Siddiq and other caterers sought review of the SC judgement restoring federal law, 2000.

In petitions filed through senior advocate Maqbool Illahi Malik, the petitioner termed the ban un-Islamic, illegal and unconstitutional, and pleaded that judges of the Shariat appellate bench and a former bench headed by ex-chief justice Sh Riaz Ahmed be included in the bench to hear review petition.●