The Lahore High Court on Friday issued notices to the DCO and the Punjab Police inspector general to submit their replies by December 1 on a petition challenging raids at homes hosting wedding functions after 10pm.
Justice Ayesha A Malik issued the order on a petition filed by Advocate Ishtiaq Chaudhry.
The petitioner said hospitality at marriage functions was an eastern tradition.
He said wedding functions could not be limited to specific time as they were a means to get together with family members and friends.
The petitioner said the enforcement of 10pm deadline on wedding functions at homes was “a clear violation of fundamental rights protected in the Constitution.”
He said the Marriage Functions Act could not be extended to residences and in doing so the authorities were misusing the law.
He said the district administration was carrying out raids by invoking Section 144 of CrPC proclaimed by the DCO.
The judge remarked that Section 144 could apparently not be used to regulate gatherings at homes.
The lawyer prayed to the court to set aside the imposition of Section 144 and declare the police raids on residences illegal.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 30th, 2013.