KOHAT, Dec 18: Despite the Supreme Court ban on wedding meals, a large number of NWFP ministers, MPAs and government officials attended on Sunday a lavish valima dinner hosted by provincial Law Minister Malik Zafar Azam to mark the marriage of his nephew.

The party was held on the lawns of the Kohat Garrison Club and attended by around 1500 people, who partook of a variety of dishes served in violation of the SC ban on extravagant expenses on weddings.

The organizers had to face embarrassment when they were asked to turn off music on the arrival of Senior Minister Sirajul Haq. The guests enjoyed chicken roast, white meat, sweats and other delicacies.

Prominent among those who attended the ceremony were Deputy Speaker of NWFP Assembly Ikram Ullah Shahid, Minister for Zakat and Ushr Hafiz Hashmat, Minister for Population Welfare Kashif Azam, Minister for Fisheries Akhtar Nawaz, Minister for Sports Raja Faisal Zaman, MPA Qalb e Hassan, district and tehsil nazims of Kohat and Karak, a large number of lawyers and high officials.

They also presented gifts to the groom, Nayyar Azam Khattak.