Marital affairs: LHC to take up Christian Divorce Act today

Act states that Christian woman could only apply for separation if she proves that her husband committed adultery

LAHORE: Lahore High Court (LHC) will rehear the matter of Christian Divorce Act, 1869, on Monday (today).

Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah had reserved the detailed judgement on the matter on May 23. Through a short order, he had restored Section 7 of the Act, earlier omitted through an ordinance promulgated during General Ziaul Haq’s rule following which Christian couples could only file for separation or divorce if they accused their partners of adultery.

Some of the Christians wanting divorce or separation would embrace Islam, Christian rights activists said. They said the omission of Section 7 had made lives of Christian women difficult.

Ayra Inderyas, a rights activist, said a Christian woman could not apply for separation until she proved that her husband had committed adultery.

Justice Shah had issued the order on a petition moved by Munir Masih. The petitioner had submitted that he wanted to divorce his wife but could not do so without accusing her of adultery. He had said Section 7 of the Christian Divorce Act, 1869, should be restored to allow couples to end marriages on other grounds.

The judge had also listened to rights activist Hina Jilani, Christian MPA Shunila Ruth and former Lahore bishop Alexander John Malik before reserving the judgement. He also had a meeting with Pope Francis when he went to Vatican City on latter’s invitation to attend Judges’ Summit organised by Pontifical Society of Social Sciences.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 19^th, 2016.