Christian Divorce: Court puts off reserved verdict again

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court has fixed the hearing on the Christian divorce act next Friday before it reaches the deadline of 120 days for announcing the reserved judgment. The judgment on the case was reserved more than seven months ago on May 23, 2016. The court fixed the matter for hearing on September 19 and after that, the matter was fixed for hearing on Friday. Punjab Human Rights and Minorities Affairs Minister Khalil Tahir Sindhu were to appear before the court but he sought time beforehand and the court adjourned the hearing till next Friday. The court had issued a short order saying the omission of Section 7 from the law in 1981 was in violation of the Constitution. After the 1981 ordinance, Christian couples could seek divorce or file for separation only if they accused their partners of infidelity. The short order had received mixed reactions from Christian community leaders and rights’ activists.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 14^th, 2017.