KP Assembly Receives Bill to Replace Old Colonial Marriage Law -

TIMES REPORT

PESHAWAR: In a landmark step towards strengthening the rights of religious minorities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Ms. Shazia Tehmas Khan, Member of the Provincial Assembly (MPA) from the Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarians (PPPP), has introduced the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Christian Marriage Bill, 2026. The draft legislation has been submitted to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly Secretariat and is currently under review before being taken up for legislative consideration.

The proposed Bill seeks to replace the 154-year-old Christian Marriage Act, 1872, an outdated colonial-era law, with a modern legal framework that reflects Pakistan’s constitutional guarantees, contemporary administrative standards, and the evolving needs of the Christian community in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The legislation establishes a comprehensive legal framework for the solemnization, registration, regulation, and legal recognition of Christian marriages in the province. It introduces stronger safeguards against child marriage, forced marriage, coercion, fraud, misrepresentation, and unlawful solemnization while ensuring that Christian marriages continue to be conducted in accordance with the religious practices of different churches and denominations.

The Bill also introduces modern procedures for marriage registration, secure maintenance of physical and electronic marriage records, improved coordination with civil registration authorities, including NADRA, and enhanced legal certainty for Christian families. It further protects the legitimacy and rights of children, strengthens accountability through transparent regulation of marriage registrars and ordained ministers, and introduces safeguards against fraudulent practices.

The proposed legislation is the result of an extensive consultative process involving Christian community elders, representatives of various churches, clergy, legal experts, civil society organizations, and human rights stakeholders. The legislative draft is firmly grounded in Biblical values and Christian traditions, while remaining fully consistent with the Constitution of Pakistan and contemporary legal standards.

The bill has been jointly drafted by MPA Shazia Tehmas Khan, Blue Veins & NCHR, with technical support by Mr. Qamar Nasim, Program Manager at Blue Veins, under the Sub NCHR/KP’s Sub Committee on Minority Rights.

Speaking on the introduction of the Bill, Ms. Shazia Tehmas Khan said:”This Bill is a historic step towards ensuring equal rights, dignity, and legal protection for the Christian community of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Developed through extensive consultations with churches, clergy, community leaders, and legal experts, the legislative draft is firmly grounded in Biblical values and Christian traditions while remaining fully consistent with the Constitution of Pakistan. It replaces an outdated colonial-era law with a modern legal framework that protects Christian families and respects their faith.”

Rizwan Ullah Shah, Coordinator, National Commission for Human Rights (NCHR) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, said:”The NCHR remains committed to promoting the rights of religious minorities through dialogue and inclusive lawmaking. We are pleased that the Commission’s Sub-Committee on Minority Rights contributed to the consultative process that helped shape this important legislative reform for the Christian community.”

Qamar Naseem, Program Manager, Blue Veins, who provided technical support in drafting the legislation, said:”This Bill reflects the collective input of Christian community elders, church leaders, clergy, legal experts, and civil society. It modernizes Christian marriage law while preserving Christian traditions, strengthening legal protections, and responding to the practical needs of Christian families in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.”

Once enacted by the Provincial Assembly, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Christian Marriage Act, 2026 will repeal the application of the Christian Marriage Act, 1872 within the province and establish a modern, transparent, and rights-based legal framework for Christian marriages that better serves present and future generations.