DLP Report
PESHAWAR
Speaker of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly Babar Saleem Swati on Thursday said the assembly would prioritize legislation on a proposed Christian Marriage Act to replace the colonial-era law governing family matters of the Christian community. A delegation of the Christian community, led by MPA Askar Pervez, met Swati in his chamber and briefed him on the draft bill and the legal and administrative challenges faced by the community. The delegation told the speaker that personal matters of Christians were still being regulated under the Christian Marriage Act of 1872, a law enacted during the colonial period that did not adequately address the social and legal challenges that have emerged over time. They stressed that comprehensive legislation in line with current realities and modern legal requirements was urgently needed.
Pervez said the draft had been prepared after consultations with stakeholders, legal experts, and representatives of the Christian community to ensure it offered practical and lasting solutions. The proposed bill includes provisions to prevent child marriages, regulate marriage registration, address interfaith marriages, and deal with marital disputes, separation, annulment, and other related matters in accordance with contemporary legal standards.
Swati said the KP Assembly was committed to protecting the constitutional, legal, and human rights of all citizens, and that resolving issues faced by minority communities remained a priority. “Ensuring equal rights and a life of dignity for minorities is a fundamental responsibility of the state, and the legislative process will be given priority to achieve this objective,” he said. He directed the relevant authorities to immediately refer the draft Christian Marriage Act to the Local Government Department and other concerned institutions for review of all legal and technical aspects, so it could be presented before the assembly for legislation at the earliest. The speaker expressed hope that, with input from all stakeholders, a balanced, comprehensive, and workable law would be framed that aligns with the legitimate demands of the Christian community and the requirements of the modern era.
