Lodhran man gets six months in jail for second marriage without first wife’s consent

A man in Lodhran was sentenced to six months in prison and fined Rs 500,000 for contracting a second marriage without the consent of his first wife, as mandated by the Muslim Family Laws Ordinance, 1961, in Pakistan.

Shakeela Bibi, a resident of Tehsil Kahror Pakka, filed a writ petition in the civil court against her husband for violating the law by entering into a second marriage without her approval.

Family court judge Tahira Shehzad Khan, while concluding the hearing, announced the sentence against Mohsin after evidence proved his violation of the law.

If the accused fails to pay the Rs 500,000 fine, his prison sentence will be extended by an additional two months.

Following the judgment, the police arrested the accused from the court premises and transferred him to the central jail in Bahawalpur.

Section 6 of the Muslim Family Laws Ordinance, 1961, stipulates that a man intending to contract a second marriage must seek permission from the Arbitration Council.

The council, in turn, seeks consent from the first wife or wives. The chairman of the council requires the existing wife or wives to nominate a representative to participate in the arbitration process.

Only after the Arbitration Council determines that all legal obligations and justifications for the second marriage have been fulfilled can a man legally enter into another marital union.

The law further states that if a man bypasses this legal process, he shall, “pay immediately the entire amount of the dower, whether prompt or deferred, due to the existing wife or wives, which amount, if not so paid, shall be recoverable as arrears of land revenue.”

Any man found guilty of contracting a second marriage without the Arbitration Council’s permission is liable to face imprisonment for up to one year and a fine of Rs. 500,000.