The union of wedding hall owners on Wednesday called for inclusive security measures to be put in place by government for wedding halls in the country.
The union warned it would close all wedding halls if government failed to provide them with security.
They said that wedding hall owners had constantly shared their security grievances with the ministry of interior, but the ministry has so far taken no action.
They said that these halls have cost millions of dollars to build.
“Either they give us some policemen or at least sit with us to reach a conclusion about the security of the lives and property of the people,” said Mohammad Nader Qarghayee, head of the union.
The local business community has also criticized government for not providing them with security.
“We see over 20 guards around the homes of government officials. But government institutions do not want to concentrate on the halls where over 5,000 or 6,000 thousand people gather,” said Abdullah Behroz, deputy head of the businessmen union.
At least 50 people were killed in a suicide bombing at about 6pm on Tuesday night at a large wedding hall in Kabul city. The bomber targeted a religious gathering, being held at the Uranus Wedding Hall, to mark the birthday of Prophet Mohammad.
The wedding hall owner, Mohammad Aslam Baraki also weighted in and said the situation was no longer acceptable.
“For God sake, it has become intolerable to us now,” said Baraki.
According to statistics, over $150 million has been invested in 100 wedding halls in Kabul city and that these venues have created jobs for thousands of people.
