Police in Bahawalnagar, Punjab, arrested a groom and his best man during a mehndi ceremony, citing violations of the Sound Act. The incident sparked widespread public outrage and was later deemed unlawful by the court.
According to the A-Division Police, the wedding party in Basti Saddr Deen had allegedly exceeded noise limits by playing loud music. Acting on this claim, officers raided the event late at night, detaining the groom and his best man while they were still in their wedding outfits.
Residents criticized the police action, describing it as an abuse of authority and “deeply humiliating” for the families involved. Witnesses said that relatives of the groom repeatedly pleaded with officers to refrain from making the arrests, but their requests were ignored.
Sources reported that both men spent the night in police custody. The following morning, on the day of the wedding, the police presented them before Civil Judge and Area Magistrate Rao Zubair, seeking a 14-day judicial remand. The court was surprised to see the groom and his friend appearing in wedding clothes.
Defense lawyer Saleem Mahar argued that the police acted out of “malice and a desire for attention,” framing the arrests as a Sound Act violation. He pointed out that playing music at a wedding did not constitute a crime, as the law is meant to prevent speeches or sounds that could incite religious, sectarian, or provincial tension, not cultural celebrations.
After reviewing the case, the magistrate rejected the police’s request for remand and ordered the release of both men. In his written verdict, the judge cited serious procedural flaws, noting that the investigating officer had not recorded statements from independent witnesses and that the complainant was also the investigating officer.
The court also observed that the FIR did not mention any loudspeakers, speakers, or objectionable content that could justify charges under the Sound Act. “The purpose of this law is to prevent disturbances that threaten public order, not to target joyous events such as weddings,” the verdict stated.
Disclaimer: The picture featured in this article is not related to the incident.