SC clarifies chief justice's remarks on love marriages

A spokesperson for the Supreme Court issued a clarification on Wednesday regarding reports that attributed a statement to Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP), Justice Qazi Faez Isa, suggesting that love marriages are problematic for the court.

In a statement issued by Public Relations Officer Shahid Hussain Kamboyo, it was revealed that on September 26, 2023, Courtroom No. 1 of the Supreme Court heard a family matter involving a dispute over the custody of two minor daughters. During the proceedings, it became apparent that the parents in question had entered into a love marriage.

He said contrary to media reports, the court did not express disapproval of love marriages. Instead, it encouraged the parties to apply the same principle of love in addressing the welfare of their children.

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“It transpired that the parents had entered into a love marriage, and during the hearing the Court observed that they should apply the same principle, of love, in attending to their children’s welfare.”

He said that the media misreported that the court had expressed its disapproval of love marriages. On the contrary, he added, better sense prevailed when the parties were reminded of the power of love, which when applied to the matter of their children, resulted in an amicable resolution of the case.

During the hearing of the case, as per media reports, the CJP had asked the children’s father whether he had a love marriage or an arranged marriage. Taimur, the father of the children, said that it was a love marriage.

Justice Isa then reportedly remarked that people themselves marry for love, and then they become an issue for the court. The Supreme Court disposed of the case with the consent of the parents.