Christian marriage bill faces opposition

A bill has been introduced in the Punjab Assembly to amend the 153-year-old Christian Marriage Act, but it has drawn criticism from Christian religious leaders and legal experts, who argue that raising the marriage age alone is not enough and that wider reforms—covering divorce, annulment, inheritance, child custody, and separation—are also needed, along with proper consultation with the Church during the drafting process.

The amendment bill was presented in the Punjab Assembly by Chairman of the Standing Committee on Minority Affairs, Falbous Christopher. According to the proposed bill, both the bride and groom must be Christian for a valid Christian marriage, whereas under the existing law, it is sufficient if one party is Christian. The bill also proposes setting the minimum marriage age for both men and women at 18 years. Under the current law, the minimum age is 16 for boys and 13 for girls.

Peter Jacob, Executive Director of the Centre for Social Justice, opined that there has long been a need to reform Pakistan's 150-year-old Christian marriage and divorce laws. "The federal government has already amended the Christian Marriage Act 1872 to set the marriage age at 18, so similar reforms were necessary in Punjab. However, consultations with different churches and Christian leaders should have taken place before legislation," said Jacob.

Several church representatives have expressed concerns about the proposed bill. Reverend Dr Majid Abel of the Presbyterian Church claimed that proper consultation with the Church was not carried out during the drafting process. "Only the Church and its designated priests or pastors should have the authority to solemnize Christian marriages to ensure adherence to religious principles," said Dr Abel.

Human rights activist and Lahore High Court lawyer Samuel Payara stated that several important legal aspects have not been included in the proposed bill. "The existing Christian Marriage Act 1872 contains detailed provisions regarding marriage procedures, registration, powers, and violations, whereas the new bill is relatively brief," noted Payara.

"The bill does not clearly define marriage as a religious and sacred bond and does not address different Christian denominations and church laws. The authority to conduct marriages has largely been given to registrars and government officials, while the role of the Church and clergy has been reduced, raising concerns about the Church's autonomy," he added.

Samuel Payara also pointed out that the system of pre-marriage notices, objections, and investigations has been weakened, which could increase the likelihood of illegal or fraudulent marriages. "The bill does not clearly include penalties for false statements, illegal marriages, or other violations. Additionally, the absence of provisions for NADRA or biometric verification systems may create identification and record-keeping issues," emphasized Payara.

Legal experts argue that changing the marriage age alone is insufficient and that broader legal reforms are needed concerning divorce, annulment, inheritance, child custody, and separation. Lahore High Court lawyer Rabeeca Niamat implored that the existing divorce laws face significant criticism because the legal process is considered lengthy and complicated.

In March 2026, the Lahore High Court ruled that if a Christian couple has been living separately for two years, "desertion" can be considered grounds for divorce. Legal circles view this decision as an important development in Christian divorce cases.