Marquee owner seeks reprieve from LHC

Petitioner says no effort made since March to lay down SOPs

LAHORE: A writ petition seeking permission to reopen marriage halls and marquees with necessary safety restrictions against coronavirus has been filed in the Lahore High Court (LHC).

The petitioner, the management of an event complex, cited as respondents the government of Punjab through its chief secretary, primary and secondary healthcare department through its secretary, director general of health services and the home department through the additional chief secretary.

It contended that the provincial government had allowed other businesses through different notifications but kept closed the marriage halls and marquees.

The petitioner added that the home department on March 14 prohibited the holding of public and private gatherings. The ban on marriage ceremonies in halls is still in place.

The petitioner said it had not only abided by the government’s instruction to keep the business closed but also paid salaries to its employees.

Meanwhile, the government allowed sectors like construction, industries, factories, retail shops, gymnasiums and shopping malls to resume operation. The sectors were allowed to resume their activities subject to adherence to the standard operating procedures (SOPs).

The petitioner contended that no effort had been made during the past two months to lay down SOPs for reopening marriage halls, as had been done for other businesses.

The petitioner said Section 7 of the Punjab Infectious Diseases (Prevention and Control) Ordinance 2020 empowers the health director general to either ‘prohibit’ or ‘impose restrictions' on business of marriage halls to prevent and control infectious diseases. Instead of imposing restrictions through SOPs, the director general and other officials are adamant to prohibit the reopening of marriage halls for an indefinite period, it alleged.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 7^th, 2020.