For the first time a special marriage legislation for the Sikh community will be introduced in country soon, caretaker Minister for Law and Justice Afzal Haider said on Monday. Taking to reporters, the minister said this would meet a long-standing demand of the community as no legislation governing marriages of followers of the Sikh religion existed in the country.
"In fact the contemplated law would be the first such legislation anywhere in the world, including India where Sikh community marriages were solemnised under Hindu marriages act," the minister said. He said the proposed Sikh Marriages Ordinance 2007 was in final stage of processing and would be promulgated soon.
Under the ordinance, members of Sikh community from any part of the world could come to Pakistan to solemnise marriage and avail of the facility of registration, he said.
Six places would be specified under the ordinance for solemnising marriages of members of Sikh community. These places are Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi, Peshawar, Quetta and Nankana Sahib. The minister said the number of places for solemnising marriages could be increased in consultation with the Sikh representatives in Pakistan and Punjab Sahib could also be added to the list.
He said delegations of Sikh community had met him and expressed their gratitude for the government's initiative to enact the special law. "I have also received a string of phone calls from Sikhs in India, Canada and other places who expressed their happiness."
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