LHC declines petition against closure of marriage halls amid rising Covid cases

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Tuesday declined the petition of the Punjab Marriage Halls Association (PMHA) challenging the new restrictions on indoor functions after the sharp surge in the cases of Omicron variant of Covid-19.

The high court observed that the issue raised in the petition is related to the policy of the government to curb the spread of the pandemic and the court cannot interfere in it. Hence, the instant petition was not maintainable, it said.

Read more: ‘The idea that Omicron is less lethal & will lead to an end to the pandemic is incorrect’

The association in its petition said the decision of the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) to ban indoor weddings was discriminatory. It argued that educational institutions, transport services, and other activities had been allowed to continue as usual but the industry of marriage halls has been subjected to discriminatory action.

The petition contended that the industry had already suffered huge financial losses due to the pandemic-related restrictions imposed by the government in the past. It pleaded that marriage halls could not sustain any more losses.

It had pleaded with the court to annul the impugned notification issued by the NCOC.

Read more: Omicron is lethal for unvaccinated people, Dr Ata warns

Meanwhile, the countrywide Covid-19 positivity ratio was recorded at 12.81 per cent in the last 24 hours.

Statistics 25 Jan 22:
Total Tests in Last 24 Hours: 49,595
Positive Cases: 6357
Positivity %: 12.81%
Deaths :17
Patients on Critical Care: 1200

— NCOC (@OfficialNcoc) January 25, 2022

NCOC reported 6,357 new cases with 17 fatalities while 1,200 patients are in critical care.