Pindi bans registration of court marriages

In a bid to curb the growing number of runaway and love marriages conducted within court premises, the government has formally prohibited union councils (UCs) from registering Nikah Namas (marriage contracts) solemnised in district or tehsil courts.

A notification issued by the Local Government and Community Development Department makes clear that no marriage performed on court premises is henceforth eligible for official registration by any UC within Rawalpindi district.

The directive comes with strict warnings: union council secretaries and Nikah registrars found violating the order will face criminal prosecution, arrest, and administrative penalties - including cancellation of marriage registrar licences and dismissal from government service.

The Deputy Director of Local Government has issued an official circular to all 182 UCs operating under the District Council and Municipal Corporation of Rawalpindi, as well as to registrars and supervisory staff in all tehsil councils. The circular unequivocally bars the registration of marriages performed in or around court premises.

This development follows a sharp uptick in court and love marriages over the past two years, particularly those initiated by women under Khula (judicial divorce).

Between 1 January and 30 September of this year alone, police and court records indicate that 1,594 women - both unmarried and already married - fled their homes to enter into marriages of their choosing. Many of these women hailed from outside Rawalpindi, including cities such as Jhang, Faisalabad, Peshawar, Abbottabad, Hazara, Gujranwala, Jhelum, Gujrat, and Lahore.