In an important legal development, citizen Prince Adnan has filed a petition in the Federal Shariat Court Lahore Registry, challenging the law that requires a man to obtain his first wife's permission before marrying a second time.
The petition, which names the Ministry of Law, the Islamic Ideological Council, and other relevant parties, argues that this law contradicts Islamic principles.
Prince Adnan’s petition asserts that, according to the constitution, no law in Pakistan can be made that goes against Islamic teachings. He contends that the requirement for a first wife's consent for a second marriage is not supported by Islamic doctrine and, therefore, should be annulled.
The petition highlights that the constitution allows for any law perceived as un-Islamic to be challenged in the Federal Shariat Court.
Prince Adnan’s submission further points to societal issues, noting that many women over the age of 35 remain unmarried. He argues that the current law exacerbates this problem by imposing unnecessary restrictions on men wishing to marry more than once.
He prayed that the Federal Shariat Court declare the law in question to be against Islamic principles and annul it.