ISLAMABAD, Dec 20: The Supreme Court on Monday dismissed a petition seeking review of a ban on serving meals at wedding parties with an observation that it was the responsibility of the provincial and district governments to implement the court's ruling in letter and in spirit.

"There is no need to issue extra directive for execution of the Supreme Court judgment on banning meals at Valima receptions since all orders of the court are meant for implementation by the executive authorities," Chief Justice Nazim Hussain Siddiqui observed while hearing the review petition against its Nov 5 order of revoking a Punjab government's permission to serve one dish at Valima receptions.

Chaudhry Muhammad Siddique, leading a consortium of caterers, restaurant-owners and poultry farmers, had prayed in his review petition to associate ulema judges of the Shariat appellate bench while deciding the case since it involved interpretation of Islamic injunctions.

Serving of meals, the counsel contended, never put the burden on the host as participants of the marriage festivities always contributed to the expenses to a large extent. The court dismissed the review petition since neither the petitioner nor his counsel was present when the case was taken up.

A citizen, Hanif Abbasi, one of the original petitioners who had earlier supported the prohibition, appeared before the court to state that the ban was being openly flouted. He said that as many as eight dishes of mutton along with mineral water were being served at such festivities.

The chief justice said he had heard conflicting remarks during his visit to Karachi where some people informed him that the court order was being honoured while others said it was being violated.

When Mr Abbasi pleaded before the court to clarify its earlier judgment, the chief justice observed that the judgment was very clear under which even restrictions had been placed to host Valima receptions at houses. The chief justice said law-making was the job of parliament and courts only interpreted laws and issued rulings.

When Mr Abbasi again sought permission to move a contempt petition against violation of the court's orders, the bench suggested that he approach the relevant executive authorities first. In its Nov 5 judgment, the Supreme Court had invalidated the Punjab government's 2003 act of allowing one dish at Valima receptions to a maximum of 300 guests.