ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad Marquee Association, in a petition filed before the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Wednesday, challenged the order of National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) that restrained them from hosting indoor events.

As per NCOC’s order, events including marriage ceremonies will not be held indoors starting from Nov 20, 2020.

The petition cites special assistant to the prime minister on health, secretary national health services, deputy commissioner along with NCOC’s deputy director (operations) as respondents.

The government has decided to ban indoor activities in marquees in a bid to prevent spread of Covid-19, it said, adding the notification issued in this regard is malafide. Representatives of the association have requested the court to set the order aside.

The notification by the government, was issued on Nov 6 directing marquees to refrain from arranging marriage ceremonies to prevent the spread of Covid-19 as cases throughout the country are on the rise.

Published in Dawn, November 12th, 2020