New nikahnama proviso

LAHORE: This is with reference to the article “New nikahnama law makes medical checkup compulsory” (July 9). Apparently, the mandatory medical clause is necessary, as the report says, to “obviate any problem in their matrimonial life and subsequently any chance of having abnormal children”. Why has the Punjab government taken upon itself to regulate the ‘normality’ of its citizens’ offspring? Perhaps it’s trying to weed out any potential weak links in the indomitable martial races of the Punjab. Does anyone remember a rather famous nation-state that attempted something really similar?

Published in The Express Tribune, July 10^th, 2010.