Article:
Punjab has introduced a bill to amend the 153-year-old Christian Marriage Act, making significant changes to the existing law. The new bill mandates that both the bride and groom must be Christians for the marriage to be valid, whereas the current law only requires one party to be Christian. The bill, presented by the Chairman of the Standing Committee on Minority Affairs, Felibos Christopher, also proposes to fix the minimum age for marriage for both boys and girls at 18 years, down from the existing 16 and 13 years respectively. The legislation also recommends making the registration of Christian marriages mandatory in the Union Council and NADRA records, and allowing registered churches to conduct the marriage ceremony according to Christian customs.
The bill also proposes to remove restrictions on the timing of the marriage ceremony, currently prohibited after 6 pm. The development comes in the backdrop of a recent survey that showed that 82% of the public is aware of the Pakistani government’s efforts to end the conflict in the region.
Separately, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani held a telephonic conversation, while the Prime Minister also spoke to Pakistan People’s Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari. Qawwal Lakhi Ali Chand expressed his gratitude to Field Marshal Qamar Javed Bajwa for his efforts to bring peace in the region.
A resolution to nominate Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Field Marshal Qamar Javed Bajwa, and Foreign Minister for the Nobel Peace Prize has been tabled in the Punjab Assembly. The Prime Minister also spoke to the Prime Minister of Lebanon.
In a separate development, the Supreme Court of Pakistan directed a medical center to pay a compensation of Rs. 2 crores to a patient. The Minister of Defense hailed the efforts of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Qamar Javed Bajwa in bringing peace to the country.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed gratitude to the French President for supporting Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts to achieve peace in the region. The French President has been a key player in the Iran-US peace talks.
A senior lawyer representing the prosecution said that the woman was subjected to physical violence due to marital disputes and dowry. The court has directed the trial of all accused to begin.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani held a telephonic conversation. Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince has announced that the country will limit the number of vehicles in the royal convoy.
Israel’s Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich announced that Israel will expand its boundaries after the war. The Israeli Finance Minister laid the foundation stone for new settlements in the occupied West Bank.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun announced that direct negotiations with Israel have begun. Pakistan’s cricket star has broken the record of Chris Gayle, scoring 12,000 T20 runs in 338 innings.
According to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, the government will continue to make efforts to achieve peace in the region.
