Control on marriage expenses: Cabinet to consider 'bill' on March 19

The Cabinet, scheduled to meet on Monday in Gwadar, will consider a proposal of the Religious Ministry, which restrains Prime Minister, Members of Parliament and holders of public offices from accepting presents in connection with their marriage or marriages of their children, official sources told Business Recorder.
The meeting of the Cabinet will be presided over by Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz. Sources said that the Ministry has prepared the law titled 'Dowry and Bridal Gifts (Restriction) (Amendment) Bill, 2007', to be presented before the Parliament for consideration after approval of the Cabinet.
"The bill has been prepared by the government in the light of recommendations made by different members of the Parliament in their private members' bil,l suggesting amendments in the existing laws of 1976 in this regard," sources said.
They said that the proposed bill also restricts the general public from exorbitant expenditures at the marriages, fixing the dowry up to Rs 50,000, bridal gifts to the bride up to Rs 100,000 and bridal presents up to Rs 20,000.
"The bill also makes it binding that a list containing details of dowry, bridal gifts and presents, along with their value, should be mentioned in the Nikkah Nama," sources added.
According to the proposed bill, the violators of the 'law' would be triable in family courts and would be liable to imprisonment for six months or Rs 50,000 or both. "Any person can complain about the violation of this new law in writing along with two witnesses, or under the authority of Union Council Nazim or Niab Nazim," sources said.
According to the proposed law, "The respective provincial government would forfeit the dowry, bridal gifts or present given or accepted in contravention of the provisions of law and would be utilised for the marriages of poor and destitute".
It may be mentioned here that Anwar Bhinder had introduced the bill in the Senate on restriction of the dowry and marriage gifts, and an official bill was in process instead in view of the inefficiency of the existing law of 1976.