Large gatherings in Faisalabad expose hundreds of people to virus hazard.

FAISALABAD -- A lambardar of a village in Tandlianwala on Friday night arranged the walima ceremony of his two sons with more than 500 guests in attendance in violation of ban on any such gathering.

Reports said Assistant Commissioner Osama Niazi came to know that a gathering was under way at Chak 387-GB, Tandlianwala, where more than 500 guests were present andenjoying a `dance party` arranged in connection with the walima ceremony of two brothers Ali Zain and Ali Hasnain.

A case under section 188 of the PPC has been registered against 500 people including the bridegrooms and their f ather Nasrullah who is lambardar of the village.

Sources said a civil judge was also present at the ceremony, however, his name was skipped from the FIR.

The AC said five people had been taken into custody.

In another raid, the assistant commissioner city, Ayub Bukhari, visited a hotel on Canal Road where a wedding ceremony was wound up before his arrival. The AC detected that about 60-70 guests were present and they hadneither worn masks nor had they maintained social distancing. He said the government had imposed ban on the gatherings but the hall owner allowed the event in violation of the government instructions.

A case has been registered under sections of the Punjab Infectious Diseases Prevention and Control Ordinance against the hall owners and others.

During the raid the bridegroom, Waseem, and hall manager managed to escape. The cashier, Hassan, and some wedding guests were taken into custody and shifted to a quarantine centre for their Covid-19 tests.

Earlier on May 25, acting AC (city) Umer Maqbool raidedRoyal Marquee on Canal Road and arrested a bridegroom...