Though the original Loudspeaker Act, 1964, later modified in ‘65, is strict about the violators, prescribing fines and jail sentences, who cares. Under the law, only one loudspeaker is allowed to say the azaan (prayer calls).

During the previous term of PML-N government, four amplifiers were allowed for every mosque to harvest the religious parties’ vote bank. At the fixed, yet varying timings, muezzins compete with one another other in the same locality without letting the first one complete the pious invitation to offer prayers. It is more like a musical contest of voice boxes throttled to the fullest. No one can dare protest or call their attention to the infirm trying to catch some rest or sleep.

At other times, preceded by a loud cough in the microphone, is an announcement for some funeral or some lost/found child as part of social service. There is never an appeal to look for some lost pet dog. A non-Muslim’s demise too is not announced.

It is on record that when the device to amplify sound was invented/introduced, many religious sections rejected it as an evil. Some even opposed tilaawat (recitation of Quran) on the radio. The broadcasting authority had to assure them that they were using a separate microphone for the holy recitals. Soon most mosques had hoisted a big thuttoo (vernacular for loudspeaker) over a bamboo or a rooftop.

In Muslim architecture, the minarets are very imposing. But, to date, very few have been designed to incorporate a loudspeaker. The device becomes handy especially during the fasting month. Taraweeh are read out in fast mode and in high pitch. Sehri announcements are loud and repetitive, warning people about the time left to eat. Then, a call to the morning prayers punctuates the ritual. More calls to the prayers during the day are made through the four loudspeakers allowed for every mosque. A mosque near Chauburji has 10.

Some of the senior citizens sentimentally miss the sweet human voice when all music used to be turned off in respect.

Other sections of the civil society don’t behave differently either. It seems that a sound system is an essential part of any merry-making, be it a wedding or a birthday party or, for that matter, any ceremony going on late into the night. With occasional blasts from the fireworks the events violate the sanctity of the entire neighbourhood.

One night, just as my spouse had gone to sleep, induced by the very expensive Mezeron pills, our neighbours tried to break the sound barriers which they thought they had the right to do while celebrating the birthday of one of their many children. I reported it to the Dolphin Force that aren’t just ‘blind’ but also dumb to any street crime and violation of the loudspeaker law. After repeated calls, they finally arrived, only to appease me instead.

More and more guests kept coming in at our neighbour’s, with balloons and colourful gifts. They’d greet the Dolphin cops whose uniform proclaimed: “No Fear” (of law, I suppose). Before we knew it, the cops had sped away on their highly expensive motorbikes purchased from the taxpayers’ money, as if they were members of the Harley Davidson gang.

******

Partying is not limited to private houses. As more and more private schools, colleges and universities come up, under the relaxed vigilance of the authorities looking the other way, late-night events, organised at expensive premises, are a routine.

One such campus, established along the canal, boasting to be a law university that is affiliated with some British institution, brazenly violates the loudspeaker law every now and then. With ongoing fireworks and musicals, the guards ignore all protests by the neighbours saying it’s not louder than the noise generated by the traffic in the street.

Silencers attached to automobiles, motorcycles and rickshaws, including the nuisance called Qing-qi (aka Chand Gari), were created to reduce noise. Sadly, the concept of noise pollution is still alien to people in our part of the world. In order to warn the other road users and pedestrians, the beagle made of coiled pipe through which air was pumped by pressing a large rubber bulb, was too gentle. It was replaced by the horn. Later, pressure horns were developed and installed by unruly drivers. Traffic police took strong exception to their use. The drivers were penalised and the gadgets were confiscated. Many a time large quantities were destroyed by passing a road roller over them, and photographs of the ‘event’ made it to the press. Rickshaws too were issued tickets for faulty silencers. But these measures have become a thing of the past.

We are condemned to tolerate all such noise irritants. It is normal to use pressure horns instead of electric bells when visiting friends. Pick-up vans continually blow their horns at every house they stop to collect or drop off the children. Some overtly decorated fancy cars are fitted with noise boosters in lieu of silencers. Many have musical instruments installed emitting loud drum sounds accompanied by hooters. Some private vehicles have sirens akin to those used in ambulances.

Expensive motorbikes, fitted with thunderous machines, weaving through the traffic mess, are ignored by the wardens. Even the recently installed security cameras cannot issue them e-penalties because the number plates are often easily missed. The daredevil juvenile delinquents are often the spoilt kids of families that consider themselves above the law.

Though one-wheeling is a highly publicised offence, nothing effective has been done so far to curb this ‘sport’ that gives the boys more harm than thrill — and can even kill. Gangs of manchalay can be seen riding their beastly machines along the canal.

********

The flying machines of the Walton Club also produce noise pollution, disturbing the peace of those based along the canal and other parts of the city. The elder Wright brother, Orville, who died on January 30, 1948, must have been thrilled to hear that the sound barrier was broken by a rocket only 18 days before his demise. In Lahore, in 2021, the sound barrier is constantly broken minus the thrill.

Even the street vendors have installed amplifying recordings on their bicycles or motorbikes, on which they announce their products and their prices. Ice creams and cookies entice the children to the horror of their parents and disturbing the diligent students and the elderly and the sick in the neighbourhood.

The auditory canal has its limitations, said Dr Waliyat Ali Malik, an ENT specialist. But the citizens have to live with the ‘unavoidable’ because the custodians of law must deal with other problems.

On the Independence Day, every motorbike owner removes the silencer for maadar pidar azaad celebrations.

(This dispatch is dedicated to the ENT specialist, Dr Wilayat Ali Malik)

The writer is a painter, a founding member of Lahore Conservation Society and Punjab Artists Association, and a former director of NCA Art Gallery. He can be reached at ajazart@brain.net.pk