NAROWAL: The Sialkot police arrested 19 people for violating regulations on the use of sound systems and engaging in aerial firing during a wedding ceremony here on Sunday. The police took action after observing intense firing at a late-night wedding event in the Hamza Ghous area, prompting police teams to conduct an immediate raid.

Police teams from Nikapura and Sadar Sialkot stations raided the scene where a mehndi ceremony was in progress, marking the marriage of Akbar Ghaman’s son. Participants were firing recklessly, accompanied by loud and obscene songs blaring from the sound system.

During the raid, the police confiscated modern automatic weapons from Muhammad Naveed, Muhammad Raza, and Muhammad Faraz, who were engaged in aerial firing. The arrested people include Abdul Rehman, Basit Ali, Zaman Butt, Muhammad Abu Bakr, Daniyal, Amir Shehzad, Muhammad Salman, Umar Daraz, Amir Shehzad, and Muhammad Abdullah. Also, 14 bottles of imported liquor were seized from them. Muhammad Hamza and Waqas Ali were arrested for violating the Sound System Act.

Despite the police intervention, 15 people managed to escape from the scene under the cover of darkness. An FIR has been registered against the suspects at the Nikapura police station on the complaint of Assistant Sub-Inspector Muhammad Afzal. —

Published in Dawn, November 20th, 2023