BAHAWALPUR: The Punjab Culture Day was celebrated with colourful functions in Bahawalpur, Multan, Vehari, and Lodhran districts on Thursday.

Officials from the district administrations and students adorned special traditional dresses, with Punjab’s identity of white shalwar kameez, along with turbans and khussa, prominent in the men’s attire.

Special rallies by the district administrations were held, with deputy commissioners leading rallies in their respective districts. They said the blue Ajrak and pottery symbolised Punjab culture, representing Seraiki’s cultural heritage as well.

In Bahawalpur museum, the Punjab Culture Day was observed.

FAKE MARRIAGE: A gang purported to be the guardians of a would-be bride allegedly deprived the would-be groom and his family of valuables worth lakhs after defrauding them in the name of their girl’s marriage in Usman Town of village 435/WB in the limits of police station Machiwal in Vehari on Wednesday.

The bride’s family escaped after the wedding guests’ arrival by locking their house in Usman Town.

According to police sources, when groom Akram Rajput of village 19-West of Kacha Khooh arrived with his guests at the bride’s house in village 435, suspects Rashid Jatt, Asma Parveen, Afshan Bibi, alias Sonia, Bismillah, alias Saima Bibi, Muzamil Salim Arain, Kran Arain of Arifwala, Sakina Bibi of Mujahid Colony and two unidentified accomplices demanded more money from Akram.

However, after receiving the amount, when the nikah ceremony began, the nikah registrar demanded the bride’s CNIC and other documents. The family had nothing to provide. In the ensuing melee, all of the bride’s relatives escaped after locking their residence.

Sensing foul play, the brother-in-law of groom Akram made an emergency call to the police on 15. Police officials arrested Muzamil Salim Arain, Bismillah Bibi and Sakina Bibi, and registered a case against all the fleeing men and women.

Published in Dawn, March 15th, 2024