LAHORE: Human rights activists and social workers Friday lauded the provincial government for approving Punjab Marriage Functions Act 2016.
Lauding the Punjab government for passing Marriage Functions Act-2016, National Trade Union Federation Pakistan (NTUF) Deputy General Secretary, Nasir Mansoor said a Muslim was not expected to spend his wealth for showing grandeur and riches.
He said according to the teachings of Islam, a simple life was the one which was free from all sorts of items of show and formality. Syeda Ghulam Fatima, human rights activist and general secretary of the Bonded Labour Liberation Front Pakistan (BLLF) said the Act seemed to be a comprehensive attempt to institute a system for regulating marriage functions to ensure objectives of austerity and simplicity.
Zohra Yousaf, human rights activist, labour rights expert and head of the independent Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP), welcomed the Act and expressed the hope that efficient enforcement will help restrict the serving of more than one dish in wedding functions and other related ceremonies.
Human rights activist Jameela A Latift said that it is satisfactory that this Act would be a precedent for other provinces to put restrictions on expenses on marriages, adding it is hoped that it will prove to be a boon for those who are not in a good financial position to marry their daughters.
"According to the customary scale of expenditure on items of pomp and show, including the giving of 'Jahez' is beyond one's means", she added.
It may be mentioned that Punjab Marriage Functions Act 2016 includes ban on illumination and decorations on streets, parks and adjoining areas of the house, hotel or wedding hall where the function is being held.
It bans use of firecracker, explosives or firearms, or display of firearms, bans display of dowry before public, or cause nuisance or disturbance in the neighbourhood.
Meanwhile, violators of these restrictions could be punished with one month sentence along with fine ranging from Rs 50,000 to over two million, and the trial should be held by a first class magistrate, says the draft of the Act.
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