CJP extends Punjab wedding hall timing by an hour

Ask Auditor General of Pakistan to conduct audit of Royal Palm Country Club

LAHORE: The Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar has directed authorities to extend timing of the wedding halls across Punjab by one hour. The present timing of marriage halls in the province is just two-hour – from 8pm to 10pm

Hearing a petition seeking an extension in the timing, the CJP noted that women spend a lot of time in getting ready but when they reach the halls after facing peak hour traffic jams, they find lights of the venue already turned off.

The CJP suggested that the wedding hall timing should be extended till 11pm and asked the Lahore Lord Mayor Colonel (retd) Mubashir Javed, who was also present in the court, to look into the matter.



Javed told the CJP that the authority lies with the Lahore deputy commissioner. The CJP later asked the Lahore Deputy Commissioner Saleha Saeed if an extension could be made in the timing.

Shehbaz Sharif led former Punjab government had set the time limit on wedding functions to conserve energy. The previous government had imposed the rule across Punjab but it was strictly implemented in Lahore alone where town officials raid marriage functions violating the time limit.

In a separate case regarding illegal occupation of the Pakistan Railways’ land, Railways Minister Sheikh Rashid appeared before the court and said litigations with regard to billions of rupees worth railways lands are pending in courts.

The top judge, heading a three-member bench, ordered high courts and civil courts to decide all cases of Pakistan Railways in two months. He also directed railways to provide a list of all pending cases.

The CJP also asked authorities if an audit firm had taken charge of the Royal Palm Country Club as ordered in the last hearing. The court was told that the audit firm has taken over the club and all its records.

The top judge ordered that audit of the club should be conducted by the Auditor General of Pakistan. He said the court will look into the legal status of Royal Palm and Country Club’s lease in Islamabad.

“The old management of the club had illegally constructed cinema and marriage halls which were not allowed. The old management of the club will be accountable for each and every penny,” he noted.

During the hearing, Rashid told the court that he did not have any authority to change Pakistan Railway’s legal team. A minister cannot transfer any official above grade-20, he said.

The CJP asked who headed the Pakistan Railways legal team. Rashid said Tahir Pervaiz heads the team and he has got a stay order from a high court against his removal. The court summoned record of his stay order.

Justice Nisar asked Pervaiz why he wanted to stay in his position when the Pakistan Railways did not require his services. Pervaiz told the court that he was appointed through a process and the term of his contract has not ended.