BAHAWALPUR: Yazman Mandi city police on Wednesday booked as many as 35 persons, including a known female dancer and singer and a police constable, for allegedly violating sound system act and dancing with “objectionable gestures” at a mehndi function on Tuesday night at the outhouse of a landlord at 90/DB village, about 40kms from here.

As per police sources, the suspects, 10 of them nominated, were booked under the Punjab Sound Systems (regulation) Act, 2015-16 and section 294 of the PPC.

As per the FIR No 220/34, registered on the complaint of Inspector Muhammad Sohail Aamir, the nominated suspects include landlord Riasat Ali Thothar, his son Zeeshan, police constable Muhammad Hussain, Ali Ahmed, Muzamil Akram, Irfan, Farhan, Muzamil Hinjar and Muhammad Boota, while 25 others are unidentified.

It says that Riayas Ali organised a party to celebrate the mehndi function of his son Zeeshan at his out house at 90/DB village, where music was played on a high-volume sound system, in violation of law. At the event, dancer Ms Mahak Ali wore objectionable dress and danced with objectionable gestures, while the suspects continued showering currency notes on the dancer.

A police spokesman told Dawn that police teams are conducting raids to arrest the fleeing suspects.

FIRs REGISTERED: Punjab labour department during the last week got registered 14 FIRs against as many employers over violation of labour laws across the Bahawalpur division.

According to an official handout, most of the FIRs were registered on the alleged violations of anti-child labour law.

The department claimed that the children subjected to child labour were rescued and referred to an NGO for their social protection as per the government’s vision of providing them education.

Meanwhile, Bahawalpur environment department on Wednesday claimed to have demolished with heavy machinery three brick kilns, being operated in Uch Sharif area without zig-zag technology.

The department also got registered FIRs against the brick kiln owners, without any arrest so far.

Published in Dawn, April 10th, 2025