Jail weddings

Amongst numerous joyous traditions and celebrations in Pakistan, aerial firing is unfortunately one that is widely practised without concern for its serious consequences. Almost every celebratory moment is punctuated with shots of gunfire that at times end up as stray bullets upon unsuspecting victims, turning one person's happiness into another person's pain. In Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, aerial firing is strictly banned and punishable by law with violators facing immediate arrest and legal actions. In line with this policy, 11 grooms have been arrested in recent times on their wedding day, detained for celebratory aerial firing carried out by friends and relatives.

Just this year in Punjab, several police officials were attacked by a wedding party for registering an FIR against them following a complaint about reckless aerial firing. This was not a one-off case, as a similar incident happened in Dadu, Sindh, when guests stoned a mobile van and drove the police out of the village.

For the successful implementation of any policy that ensures citizen safety, it is important for the public to cooperate with the police. Therefore, guilt-ridden protests against 'ruining a groom's wedding' do not hold any weight. With laws and consequences clear as day, it only makes sense to continue upholding this zero-tolerance policy for what has now become a cultural practice.

Aerial firing is not just fatal. It also spreads unnecessary panic in a neighbourhood, especially living in a country where ill-intentioned gunshots are not too uncommon. Holding a groom accountable for actions that happen on his own event is not unjust or needlessly stern. It is bound to set a significant precedent for others who will now rethink their decision to celebrate joy in a way that directly puts other people in harm's way. It reinforces the idea that public safety must always remain above personal celebration.