LAHORE, Feb 15: The government will implement the restriction on serving food on weddings without harassing or embarrassing the people.

This was stated by chief minister’s adviser on human rights Rana Ejaz Ahmad in a meeting with the representatives of caterers, and owners of marriage halls and hotels here at the Civil Secretariat on Saturday.

Fine on the violation prescribed by the law framed by the Punjab Assembly early this month, would be realized after the ceremony was over and no violator would either be arrested, he added.

Lahore DCO Khalid Sultan also attended the meeting which discussed how to implement the restriction on serving food to 300 guests only on walima.

Rana Ejaz said the governor had singed the act which had come into force at once. He sought the participants suggestions for improvement in the law.

He hinted that the government would not disturb the marriage functions or harass or embarrass people even if found violating the law. Minor violations could be ignored but those paying no regard to the law would be punished, he warned.

The DCO allowed marriage hall and hotel owners who had booked orders before the enactment of law to serve food to more people than were prescribed till the start of Muharram.

But, afterwards, the DCO and the adviser made it clear that they would have to abide by the law. The adviser nevertheless asked the participants to “find some way” to handle the situation. “You can serve soup to extra guests,” he suggested.

He asked the wedding hall and hotel owners to get an undertaking from their customers that they were offering food only on walima and the guests did not exceed the limit of 300.

Rana Ejaz said police would not raid marriage halls, hotels or houses to check violation of the law. Instead, teams of the district governments would visit them and initiate action, if required, after the ceremonies were over.

The caterers representatives said the law had been enacted without consulting them. They raised many questions about the law suggesting that the guests from outstation should be allowed food even on the wedding ceremony.

They questioned as to how the Punjab had enacted the law whereas the other provinces were silent on the issue. Restriction on food on marriages was like depriving the people attached to the business of their livelihood.

The participants said the government should not prosecute them on serving food on a ceremony which a customer would pretend to be a walima. They said Nazimeen should not be engaged to implement the law because they could victimize their political opponents.

They suggested that the fees of schools or parks which people use for holding marriage functions, should be reduced. The district government and the Parks and Horticulture Authority were charging more than the wedding halls in many instances, they said.