Miandad’s son has valima under strict security
Pakistan Times Wire Service

KARACHI: Heavy security arrangements were put in place for the Valima reception held on Thursday night to celebrate the marriage of former captain Javed Miandad’s son with the daughter of Indian businessman Dawood Ibrahim at a local five-star hotel.

Despite the stringent security measures a number of former Pakistan cricketers and sportsmen showed up for the ceremony which was attended by around 1500 guests with more arriving as the night wore on.

No television crews or photographers were allowed inside the ceremony venue and were made to stand across the street of the five-star hotel where the glittering ceremony took place.

As the invited guests started arriving around 9.00 pm, a heavy cordon of hotel and private security men manning the venue made it clear to the television crews and photographers they could not go in or shoot pictures.

Even guests coming into the hall were requested to switch off their mobile phones with special separate seating arrangements made for the VIP guests. A similar situation to the one that prevailed at the marriage ceremony held in Dubai on July-23.

Pakistan's ex-captains Wasim Bari, Zaheer Abbas and Moin Khan and former players Sadiq Mohammad and Taslim Arif with hockey and squash legends Islahuddin Siddiqui and Jahangir Khan were present amongst others.

The marriage of Miandad’s son Junaid with Mahrukh has fuelled a lot of interest as the Indian government has put Ibrahim on its most wanted list with a host of charges against him and he has been in exile since 1993.

A beaming Miandad said he was happy to see so many people had come to bless the couple.●