Man convicted for solemnizing second marriage without first wife's consent

Family court sentences man to seven months imprisonment, imposes fine of Rs500,000

LAHORE:

A family court sentenced a man in Lahore to seven months imprisonment, imposing a fine of Rs500,000, on Saturday for solemnizing a second marriage without the consent of his first wife.

“Muhammad Aurangzeb Khan accused is held guilty and convicted for the offence under section 6(5) of the Muslim Family Laws Ordinance 1961”, judge Adnan Liaqat’s maintained in his order.

Petitioner Zona Nasar stated in her complaint that she married Aurangzeb Khan on September 24, 2011. She contended that Khan contracted a second marriage without obtaining her consent thereby, violating the provisions outlined in the Muslim Family Laws Ordinance,1961.

The petitioner presented in court her marriage certificate, birth certificate, and B-Form of the couple's child as well as an attested copy of the accused's second marriage certificate. She also submitted testimonies from witnesses.

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In his defense, the accused maintained that it was only after his first wife’s permission that he contracted the second marriage, adding that he did not conceal his marital status. Khan accused the prosecution witnesses of deposing against him falsely.

To back his claims, the accused produced a copy of a suit for dissolution of marriage, complaints of the wife’s alleged misconduct, and other documents.

His counsel argued that the accused contracted the marriage with his first wife’s verbal permission and that she was aware of it, but did not file any complaint earlier. He said the complainant did not produce her father and brother as witnesses during the trial, in front of whom she had given permission. He said the accused did not conceal his first marriage in the nikahnama of his second marriage, also denying evicting the complainant from their house.

However, after hearing detailed arguments and in light of the evidence produced, the court convicted the husband after guilt was proved on his part.