LHC verdict welcomed

LAHORE

The Punjab Commission on the Status of Women and the Punjab Women’s Parliamentary Caucus welcomed the Lahore High Court decision of restoring Section 7 of the Christian Divorce Act, 1869.

This Section allows Christian couples to divorce without resorting to the allegation of adultery as the only legal ground for dissolution of their marriage.

Punjab Commission on the Status of Women Chairperson Fauzia Viqar said the Commission believed in the equality of all citizens before law as enunciated in Article 25 of the Constitution of Pakistan. 

Fauzia Viqar said many women are left in a marriage where they may be suffering severe cruelty by husbands without possibility of relief. The Punjab Women’s Parliamentary Caucus also heartily welcomed the court decision. Convenor, Kanwal Nauman stated that “other countries like UK and Russia have also considered this issue and amended legislation to broaden grounds for divorce”. She asserted that inclusion of cruelty and irretrievable breakdown of marriage must be considered reasonable and just grounds for divorce.