PESHAWAR, May 26: A senior civil judge on Friday sentenced a newly-wed man to a one-month jail term and find him Rs500,000 for serving his guests a “sumptuous meal” at his wedding reception.

Judge Asghar Shah

Khilji ruled that the

prosecution had proved beyond doubt that the accused Bilal Abreez had violated the Marriage Functions (Prohibition of Ostentatious Display and Wasteful Expenses) Ordinance, 2000.

A case was registered against Bilal by the town municipal officer of Town Council No 1 on Feb 19. He was charged with arranging a sumptuous meal during the valima ceremony at Anwar Asad Colony here.

Under section 4(1) of the ordinance, no person celebrating his or the marriage of any other person shall serve or allow any one to serve meals or other edibles to persons participating in the marriage in a club, hotel, restaurant, wedding hall, community centre or any other place, except hot and cold soft drinks.—Bureau

Opinion

Editorial

A difficult story
Updated 12 Jun, 2026

A difficult story

Unless productivity becomes the dominant target of economic policy, Pakistan will continue to oscillate between crises and fragile recovery.
Rough waters
12 Jun, 2026

Rough waters

AMONGST the key potential triggers for fresh conflict in South Asia is water. The Indian state is behaving in an...
Politicised football
12 Jun, 2026

Politicised football

ALMOST three-and-half years since Lionel Messi led Argentina to FIFA World Cup glory, the latest edition of...
GB polls’ aftermath
Updated 11 Jun, 2026

GB polls’ aftermath

The new administration must address the region’s issues proactively.
Peace in retreat
11 Jun, 2026

Peace in retreat

THE ceasefire announced in April was supposed to create space for negotiations. Instead, it has been repeatedly...
A few good men
11 Jun, 2026

A few good men

IT was a brave move, no doubt. This Tuesday, in the land of the Afghan Taliban, a few good men decided to take a...