Islamabad: With the Jammu and Kashmir Government restricting the number of dishes and guests at wedding parties, Pakistan also does not seem to be lagging behind with the Supreme Court banning serving of meals during marriage ceremonies at hotels and limiting it to soft drinks.

A three-member bench of the apex court yesterday (Nov 5, 2004) not only dismissed a petition to lift the ban, imposed by the Nawaz Sharif Government on serving of lavish meals during marriage parties but also went a step ahead by ordering that only hot and cold soft drinks should be served.

The court said no person owning or running a hotel, restaurant, wedding hall, community centre, club or any caterer shall serve or allow anyone to serve any meals or edibles to persons participating in the ceremony, other than hot and cold soft drinks.

The court, however, permitted hosting marriage parties within the precincts of the residences of the hosts.

While delivering the judgement Chief Justice Nazim Hussain Siddiqui observed that functions related to marriage such as mayun/rasm-i-henna, baraat and the custom of giving large dowry were of Hindu origin and had nothing to do with the Islamic concept of marriage.

The court said that social evils emanating from such "exploitative" customs have not only added to the misery of the poor but have also put at stake their very existence.

The petition was filed by a consortium of leading caterers, restaurant-owners and poultry farmers challenging the legality of the Marriage (Prohibition of Ostentatious Displays and Wasteful Expenses) Ordinance, 2000.