RAWALPINDI: Police arrested eight participants of a wedding ceremony for resorting to firing in the air and setting off fireworks in Sadiqabad in the early hours of Wednesday.

The groom, however, managed to escape from the scene.

According to the police, the wedding participants offered resistance to a team of officials and pelted them with stones, which led to the registration of a case against more than 30 people on various charges, including violation of the Punjab Sound Systems Act 2015, and arrest of eight.

The police said an emergency call was received on ‘15’ at about 1:40am that some people were firing in the air and displaying fireworks in a wedding ceremony in Sadiqabad. In response, a police team was dispatched to the area and found people violating the ban. Besides, a loud sound system was also being used.

On being told that such practices were banned in the city, the groom, Jalal Khan, and Bangali Khan incited the participants of the wedding and about 35 people confronted the officials.

They also pelted them with stones, following which eight people were arrested. The groom, his accomplice and some other people managed to escape from the scene.

Police seized a sound system with four speakers, 10 empty cases of bullets and some firecrackers.

Published in Dawn, October 17th, 2024