Of Feasts and Marriages!
By the Editor

TAKING-UP a significant feature of old-age ritual, the Supreme Court of Pakistan has struck down a law enacted by the Punjab Assembly — which allowed service of one dish on the occasion of marriages and ‘Walima’ [post-wedding feasts by bridegrooms] and upheld the Federal Government’s ordinance on the subject — banning meals at hotels, clubs, marriage halls, community centres and alike.

A division bench of the apex court led by Chief Justice Nazim Hussain Siddiqui thus dismissed the constitutional petition challenging some parts of the Punjab Assembly’s legislation.

It’s really a great relief to the citizens, who were once again being subjected to uncalled-for additional burden of wasteful expenditure involved in offering meals on the occasions of marriage and Walima.

The ban on service of meals on such occasions imposed by the Federal Government was the most appropriate decision to save the people from financial hardships.

True that the business of hotels, clubs, marriage halls and community centres will be affected as a result of the Supreme Court’s decision, but the interests of teeming millions cannot be sacrificed for the sake of a handful of people running hotels, marriage halls and community centres.

The apex court’s verdict is undoubtedly a memorable, positive and welcome decision. The Supreme Court is a vital State institution responsible for delivering justice and relief to the masses.

The people still hold it in high esteem despite public disappointment over the judiciary’s general performance. We feel that it will not be inappropriate for it to take suo moto notice of such social issues and guide the society in keeping with the Islamic values and virtues — rather than waiting for someone to identify them before it.

Pakistan is an Islamic polity and Islam abhors wasteful expenditure and tendencies of extravaganza. Islam preaches moderation in all aspects of life. It’s, therefore, vital that traditions and 'Riwaj' [custom] potent with wasteful and extravagant expenditure, which are primarily alien to Islamic teachings, should be curbed firmly.

The elected forums, which are primarily representing the masses with 85 per cent poor people, should certainly avoid enactment of such legislations which are detrimental to the interest of bulk majority of the people of Pakistan.

It’s high time that affluent families should also refrain from taking recourse to backdoor to exhibit their wealth in a clandestine way. A greater responsibility, in fact, devolves on them to promote healthy and Islamic traditions in the country, which will — eventually lead to saving — the poor, [have-nots] and middle class of society from unnecessary financial yoke — in all types, forms and manifestations — for all times to come.●