THE MUSLIM FAMILY LAWS ORDINANCE, 1961

Page 1 of 7 THE M U S LIM F A M I L Y LAWS ORDINAN C E, 1961 CONTENTS __________ SECTIONS : 1. Short title, extent, application and commencement . 2. Definition s. 3. Ordinance to override other laws etc. 4. Succession . 5. Registration of marriage s. 6. Polygamy . 7 . Talaq . 8. Dissolution of marriage otherwise than by talaq . 9. Maintenance . 10. Dower . 11. Power to make rules . 12. Omitted . 13. Omitted . Update d till 10 - 3 - 2022

Page 2 of 7 THE M U S LIM F A M I L Y LAWS ORDINAN C E, 1961 ORDINANCE NO. VI I I OF 1961 [ 2 nd March, 1961 ] An Ord i nance t o gi v e e f f ec t to ce rtain r ec om m e ndations of the C ommission on M arriage and Family L aws W H EREAS it is e x p e di e nt to g ive e ffec t to cer t a in rec om m e nd a tions of the Commission on M arr i a g e a nd Fa m i l y L a ws; Now, THERE F ORE, in pu r su a n c e o f the P r o c l a m a tion of t he s e v e nth d a y of O c tob er , 1958, a nd in e x e rc ise of a ll pow er s e n a bling him in th a t b e h a lf , the P re sid e nt is p l ea s e d to m a ke a nd p r omu l g a te t h e f ollow i n g O r din a n ce : ⸺ 1. Sh o r t t i t l e , e x te n t , a pp l i c a t ion a n d c o m m e n c e m e n t . — (1) This O r din a n c e m a y b e ca l l e d the Muslim Fa m i l y L a ws O r din a n ce , 1 961. (2) I t e x t e nds to the whole of P a kis t a n, a nd a ppl i e s to a ll Muslim c i t i z e ns of P a kis t a n, wh ere v e r th e y m a y b e . (3) I t sh a ll c ome into f o r c e on su c h d a te 1 as the 2 [ Fe d era l Gov er nm e nt ] m a y , b y no t i f i ca tion in the o ff i c i a l G a z e t t e , a ppoint in this b e h a l f . 2. D e f i n i t i o n s . — I n this O r din a n ce unl e ss th er e is a n y th i n g re p u g n a nt in the sub j ec t or c ont e x t , ⸺ (a ) “ A r bi t ra tion Co u n c il” m ea ns a bo d y c ons i sting of the Ch a i r m a n 3 [* * * * ] a nd a re p re s e nt a tive of eac h of the p ar t i e s to a m a t t e r d ea lt with in t h is O r din a n c e 4 [ : ] 5 [P r ovid e d th a t wh er e a n y p ar t y fa ils to nomin a te a re p re s e nt a tive within the p re s cr ib e d ti me , the bo d y f o r m e d with out su c h re p re s e nt a tive s h a l l be the A r bi t ra tion Coun c il ; ] 6 [ (b) ‘ Ch a i r m a n ’ m e a ns the Ch a i r m a n of t he Un i on Coun c il or a p er son a ppoin t e d b y the 7 [ 2 [ Federal Gov e r nm e nt ] in the C a n ton m e nt area s , or by the Provincial Government in other areas, ] or b y a n o ff i ce r a utho r i z e d in th a t b e h a lf b y a n y s u c h Go v er nm e nt , to dis c h a r g e the f u n c tions of C h a i r m a n un d e r this O r di n a n ce : _________________________________________________________________________________ 1 T h e 1 5 th d ay o f J ul y , 1 9 61 , s e e G a z . o f P . , S.R.O. 56 (R ) , 1961, Ext ., p. 1128.a. 2 Subs.by F.A.O., 1975, Art. 2 and T able , for “Central Government” . 3 The w ords “ of the Union Council ” omitted by the Muslim Family Laws (Amdt.) Ordinance , 1961 ( XXI of 1961 ) , s. 2. 4 Subs., ibid, for semi - colon . 5 P roviso added, ibid . 6 Subs ibid, for the original clause (b). 7 Subs. by A.O., 1964, Art. 2 and Sch., for “Central or a Provincial Government”.

Page 3 of 7 P r ovid e d th a t wh er e the Ch a i r m a n of the Union Coun c il is a n on - Muslim, or he him s e lf wish e s to m a ke a n a p p l i ca tion to the A r bi t ra t i on Council, or is, owi n g to ill n e ss or a n y oth e r rea s on, un a ble to dis c h a r g e the f un c tions of Ch a i r m a n, t he Coun c il sh a ll e l ec t one of its Muslim m e mb er s a s Ch a i r m a n f or the pu r po s e s of this O r din a n ce ;] (c ) “ P re s cr ib e d ” m ea ns p re s cr ib e d b y r ul e s ma d e un d e r section 11 ; (d) “ Union Coun c il” m ea ns the Union Coun c il or the Town or Union Com m it t e e c onstitu t e d und e r t h e B a s ic D e mo crac i e s O r d er , 1 959 , and 1 [having in the matter jurisdiction as prescribed]; (e ) “ W ar d” m ea ns a w ar d within a Union or Town a s d e f in e d in the af o re s a id O r d er . 3. O r d i n a n c e t o ov err i d e o t h e r la w s, etc . ⸺ ( 1 ) T he p r ovisions of this O r d in a n c e s h a ll h a ve effec t notwiths t a nding a n y l a w, c ustom or u s a g e , a nd the r e g is t ra tion of Muslim m a r r i a g e s sh a ll t a ke pl ac e on l y in acc o r d a n c e with t h o se p r ovisio n s. (2) For the re mov a l of d o ubt, it is h ereb y dec l are d th a t the p r ovisions of the A r bi tra tion A c t, 1940 (X of 1940), the Co de of Civil Pr o ce du r e 19 08 ( Ac t V of 1908), a nd an y oth e r l a w reg u la ting the p r o ce d ur e of c ou rt s s h a ll not a pp l y to a n y A r b i t ra tion Coun c il. 4. Su cce ssi on . ⸺ 2 [ (1) ] I n t h e e v e nt of the d ea th o f a n y s o n or d a u g ht e r of the p rop osit u s b ef o r e the op e ning o f su cce ssion, t h e c hild re n o f su c h son or d a u g h t er , if a n y , living a t the time the su cce ssion op e ns, sh a ll p e r s t r ip e s rece ive a s h a r e e quiv a l e nt to the s h ar e wh i c h s u c h son or d a u g ht er , a s t h e ca se m a y b e , would h a ve rece i v e d if a liv e . 2 [ (2) If a Muslim male from Ahl - e - Teshih dies, the share of a widow in the immovable property left behind by her deceased husband shall be as follows:― (a) one - fourth share of the fixed price or value of the property, if there is no child left behind the deceased husband; and (b) one - eighth share, if there is child left behind. (3) If there are two or more widows, the share, as mentioned in su b - section (2), shall be divided equally among them. (4) The price or value of the property shall be the price or value existing at the time of payment and not the price or value which existed at the time of death of the husband: Provided that if the legal heirs of the deceased do not give the widow her share in the above terms, she shall become entitled to her due share in the corpus of immovable property. (5) A widow is entitled to her share in the corpus of movable property of her deceased husband provide d that the provisions of sub - sections (2) and (3) shall mutatis mutandis apply. 1 Subs. by the Muslim Family Laws (Amdt.) Ordinance, 1961 (XXI of 1961), s. 2, for “having jurisdiction in the area concerned”. 2 Renumbered as sub - section (1) and added new sub - sections from (2) to (8) by Act, XXVIII of 2021, s. 2 .

Page 4 of 7 (6) Fiqah - e - Jafri recognizes right of a husband to get his share from the property left by his deceased wife, either movable or immovable, as follows: ⸺ (a) one - half share, if there is no child left behind; and (b) one - fourth share of the property, if there is child left behind. (7) In case of dispute, the parties or any of the parties may have recourse to a court of competent jurisdiction or by appr oaching the Mujtahid - e - Alam from the panel maintained by the Council of Islamic Ideology. The decision of Mujtahid - e - Alam shall have a status of an award and the same shall be dealt with in accordance with the provisions of the Arbitration Act, 1940 (X of 1940). Explanation . — The expression “Mujtahid - e - Alam (Faqih - e - Azam)” means a juris - consult, religious scholar or doctor of Shia school of thought well versed with Shariah having international repute and of such recognition. The Council of Islamic Ideology s hall maintain a panel of Mujtahid - e - Alam having aforesaid qualifications. (8) As enshrined in Article 227 of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, the inheritance rights of Ahl - e - Tashih and matters connected therewith or ancillary thereto s hall be decided according to their personal law interpreted by Fiqah - e - Jafria ( Shia school of thought). ] 5. R e gis tr a t ion o f m a rr iag e s . ⸺ (1) Ev e r y m arr i a g e so l e mn iz e d und e r Mu s l i m L a w sh a ll be r e g is t ere d in acc o r d a n c e with the p r ovisions of th i s O r din a n ce . (2) F or the pu r pose of r e g is t ra tion of m arr i a g e s und e r this O r din a n ce , t h e Union Coun c il sh a ll g ra nt l i ce n c e s to one or m o r e p er sons, to be ca l l e d Nik a h R e g is t rar s, but in no ca s e sh a ll mo r e th a n on Nik a h R e g is t ra r be l i ce ns e d f o r a n y one W ar d. (3) Ev e r y m arr i a ge not so l e mn iz e d b y the N i k a h R e g is t ra r sh a ll, f or the pu r pose of r e g is t ra tion und e r this O r din a n c e , be re p o r t e d t o him b y the p er son w ho h a s so l e mn iz e d su c h m arr i a g e . (4) W ho e v e r c ont ra v e n e s the p r ovisions of su b - s ec tion (3) sh a ll be puni s h a ble with simple imp r ison m e nt f or a t er m whi c h m a y e x t e nt to th r e e months, or with f ine w hi c h m a y e x t e nd to o n e thous a nd r up ee s, or with both . (5) The f o r m of ni k a h n a m a , the r e g is t er s to be m a in t a in e d b y Nik a h Re g is t rar s, the rec o r ds to be p re s er v e d b y Uni o n Coun c ils, the m a nn e r i n whi c h m arr i a g e s sh a ll be r e g is t ere d a nd c opi e s o f nik a h n a ma s h a ll be sup p l i e d to the p ar t i e s a nd the fee s to be c h ar g e d th e re o f , sh a ll be su c h a s m a y be p re s cr ib e d. (6) A n y p er son m a y , on p a y m e nt of the p re s cr i b e d fee , if a n y , insp ec t a t the o ff i c e of the Union Coun c il the rec o r d p re s er v e d und e r su b - s ec tion (5), or obt a in a c o p y of a n y e nt r y t h ere in. 6. P olyg a m y. ⸺ ( 1 ) No m a n, du r ing the subsis t e n c e of a n e x isting m arr i a g e , sh a ll , e x ce p t wi t h the p re vious p er mission in w r iting of the A r bi t r a t ion Coun c il, c ont ra c t a noth e r m arr i a g e , n o r sh a l l a n y s u c h m arr i a g e c on t r a c t e d without su c h p er m i ssion be r e g is t ere d un d e r t hi s O r din a n ce . (2) An a ppl i ca tion f or p er m i ssion und e r s ub - s ec t i on (1) s ha ll be submit t e d to the Ch a i r m a n in the p re s cr ib e d m a nn e r , to g e th e r with the p re s c r ib e d fee , a nd sh a ll s t a te rea sons f or t h e p r opo s e d m arr i a g e , a nd wh e t h e r t h e c ons e nt of the e x isting wi f e or wiv e s h a s b ee n obt a in e d th ere to.

Page 5 of 7 (3) On rece ipt of the a p pl i ca tion und e r s ub - s ec tion ( 2 ), t h e Ch a i r m a n sh a ll a sk the a ppl i ca nt a nd his e x i sting w i f e or wiv e s eac h to nomin a te a re p re s e nt a tiv e , a nd t h e A r bi t ra tion Coun c il s o c onstitu t e d m a y , if s a ti s f i e d th a t the p r opos e d m a rr i a ge is n ece s s a r y a nd j u st, g ra nt, sub j ec t to su c h c ondition s, if a n y , a s m a y be d ee m e d f it, the p er m i ssion a ppl i e d f o r . (4) I n d ec idi n g the a p p l i ca tion the A r bi t ra t ion Coun c il sh a ll rec o r d its rea sons f or the d ec ision , a nd a n y p ar t y m a y , in the p re s cr ib e d m a nn er , within the p re s cr ib e d p er iod, a nd on p a y m e nt of t h e p re s cr ib e d fee , p refe r a n a ppl i ca t i on f or re vision, 1 [ to the C ol l ec to r ] c on cer n e d a nd his d ec ision sh a ll be f in a l a nd sh a ll not be ca l l e d in qu e stion in a n y Cou r t. ( 5) A n y m a n who c on t r ac ts a noth e r m arr i a g e w ithout the p er mission of the A r bi t ra t ion Coun c il sh a ll ⸺ (a ) p a y im m e di a t e l y t h e e nt i r e a mount of the d o w e r , wh e th e r p r ompt or d efe r re d, due to the e x isting w i f e or wi v e s, whi c h a mount, if not so p a id, sh a ll be r ec o v era ble a s arrear s of l a nd re v e nu e ; a nd (b) on c onvi c t ion u pon c o m pl a int be punis h a ble wi t h si m p le imp r ison m e nt whi c h m a y e x t e nd to one y ear , or with f ine whi c h m a y e x t e nd to f ive thous a nd r up ee s, or with both. 7. Tala q . — (1) A n y m a n who wish e s to div o rc e h is wi f e sh a ll, a s soon a s m a y b e af t e r the p r onoun ce m e nt of t a l a q in a n y f o r m wh a ts o e v er , g ive the C h a i r m a n not i c e in w r iting of his h a vi n g done so, a nd sh a ll supp l y a c o p y th e re of to the wi f e 2 [:] 2 [Provided that where the parties belong to Fiqah - e - Jafria ,⸺ (a) the man may voluntarily and with his free will pronounce himself or through duly authorized attorney ( V akil) Talaq uttering in literal Arabic words (seegha) in the physical presence of at least two witnesses qualifying the requirements of c lause (1) of Article 17 of the Qanun - e - Shahadat, 1984 (P.O. No. 1 of 1984); (b) the pronouncement of Talaq shall be ineffective if it is done jokingly or under anger, intoxication, insanity, duress or coercion of any kind and from any corner whatsoever; a nd (c) in case of dispute, with reference to clauses (a) or (b) arising due to difference of opinion, the parties or any of the parties may have recourse to a court of competent jurisdiction or by approaching the “Mujtahid - e - Alam” and the decision of Muj t ahid - e - Alam shall have a status of an award and the same shall be dealt with in accordance with the provisions of the Arbitration Act, 1940 (X of 1940). Explanation .⸺The expression “Mujtahid - e - Alam (Faqih - e - Azam)” means a juris - consult, religious scholar or doctor of Shia school of thought well versed with Shariah having international repute and of such recognition. The Council of Islamic Ideology shall maintain a panel of Mujtahid - e - Alam having aforesaid qualifications.] __________ _ _____________________ _ ________________________________________________ 1 Subs. b y F.A .O . , 1975 , A rt. 2 & Sch. , for certain words. 2 Subs. and ins. by the Muslim Family Law (Second Amendment) Act, 2021 ( XXIX of 2021), s. 2.

Page 6 of 7 1 [(1A) As enshrined in Article 227 of the Constitution o f the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, the divorce and matters connected therewith or ancillary thereto shall be decided according to the personal law interpreted by Fiqah - e - Jafria ( Shia school of thought).] (2) W ho e v er c ont ra v e n e s the p r ovisions of sub - s ec t i on (1) s ha ll be pun i sh a ble with simp l e imp r ison m e nt f or a t er m whi c h m a y e x t e nd to o ne y e ar or with f ine w hi c h m a y e x t e nd to f ive thous a nd r up ee s or with both. (3) S a ve a s p r ovid e d in s ub - s ec tion ( 5 ) , a t a l a q unl e ss re vok e d ear l i er , e x p r e ss l y o r oth er wis e sh a ll not be effec tive until the e x pi r a tion of nin e t y d a y s fr om the d a y on wh i c h not i c e und e r su b - s ec tion (1) is d e liv ere d to the C h a i r m a n. (4) W ithin th i r t y d a y s o f the rece ipt of not i c e u nd e r s ub - s ec tion (1), t h e Ch a i r m a n sh a ll c onstitute a n A r bi t ra ti o n Coun c il f or the pu r pose of b r i n g i n g a bout a r e c on c il i a tion b e tw ee n t h e p ar t i e s, a nd the A r bi t ra tion Coun c il sh a ll t a ke a ll s t e ps n ece ss a r y to b r i n g a bout su c h rec o n c il i a tion. (5) I f t h e wi f e b e p r e g n a nt a t the time t a l a q is p r onoun ce d, t a l a q sh a l l not b e effec tive until the p er iod m e ntion e d in s ub - s ec tion 2 [ ( 3 ) ] or the p r e g n a n c y , whi c h e v e r be l a t er , e nds. (6) Nothi n g s h a ll d e b a r a wi f e whose m arr i a g e h a s b ee n t er min a t e d b y t a l a q effec tive und e r t his s ec tion fr om re - m ar r y i ng the s a m e husb a nd, w it hout a n in t er v e ni n g m a r r i a g e with a th i r d p er son unl e ss su c h t er min a tion i s f or the th i r d t ime so effec tiv e . 8. Disso lu t ion o f m a rr i age o t h er w ise t h an b y t ala q . ⸺ W h er e the r i g ht to divo rc e h a s b e e n du l y d e l e g a t e d to the wi f e a nd she wish e s to e x erc ise th a t r i g ht, or wh e r e a n y o f the p ar t i e s to a m arr i a g e wish e s to diss o l v e the m arr i a ge oth er w ise th a n b y t a l a q , the p r o visions of s ec tion 7 sh a ll, mu t a tis mu t a ndis a n d so fa r a s a ppl i ca bl e , a pp l y . 9. M ai n te n a n ce . ⸺ (1) I f a n y hus b a nd fa ils to m a int a in his w i f e a d e qu a t e l y , or wh e r e th e r e a r e mo r e wiv e s th a n on e , fa i ls to m a in t a in th e m e qu it a b l y , t h e w i fe , or a ll or a n y o f the wi v e s, m a y in a ddition to s ee k i n g , a n y o th e r l e g a l re m e d y a v a i l a b le a pp l y to the Ch a i r m a n who sh a ll c onstit u te a n A r bi t ra tion Coun c il to d e t er mine the m a t t er , a nd the A r bi t ra tion Coun c il m a y issue a c er t i f i ca te sp ec i f y i n g the a mount w hi c h sh a ll be p a id a s m a int e n a n c e b y t h e husb a nd. (2) A husb a nd or wi f e m a y , in the p re s cr ib e d m a nn er , within the p re s cr i b e d p er iod, a nd o n p a y m e nt of t h e p re s cr i b e d fee , p r e fe r a n a p p l i ca tion f or re vision of the cer t i f i ca t e , 3 [ to the Col l ec to r ] c on cer n e d a nd his d ec ision sh a ll be f in a l a nd sh a ll not be ca l l e d in qu e stio n in a n y Cou r t. (3) A n y a mount p a y a ble und e r s ub - s ec tion (1) o r (2) , i f not p a id in due ti m e , sh a ll be rec ov era ble a s arr e ar s of l a nd re v e n u e . 10. Do w er . ⸺ W h er e no d e t a ils a bout the mode o f p a y m e nt of dow e r a r e sp ec i f i e d in t h e nik a h n a ma , or the m arr i a g e c ont rac t, the e nt i r e a mount of the dow e r sh a ll be p re s cribed to be p a y a ble on d e m a nd. _________________________________________________________________________________ 1 Ins. new sub - section (1A) by the Muslim Family Law (Second Amendment) Act, 2021 (XXIX of 2021), s. 2. 2 Subs. by the Muslim Family Law (Second Amendment) Ordinance, 1961 (XXX of 1961), s. 2 for “(2)”. 3 Subs. by F.A.O., 1975, Art., 2 and Sch., for certain words.

Page 7 of 7 11. P o w e r t o m a k e r u l e s. ⸺ (1) T h e 1 [ 2 [ Fe d era l Go v er nm e nt ] in re sp ec t of the C a nto nm e nt ar e a s a nd the P r ovi n c i a l Gov ernment in re sp ec t of oth e r a rea s] m a y m a k e r u l e s to car r y into effec t t h e pu r po s e s of this O r din a n ce . (2) I n m a ki n g r ul e s und e r this s ec tion, the 1 [ su c h Go v er nm e nt ] m a y p r ovide t h a t a b reac h of a n y of the r ul e s sh a ll b e pun i sh a ble with simple im p r ison m e nt whi c h m a y e x t e nd to one month, o r with f ine whi c h m a y e x t e nt to two hund re d r up ee s, or w ith both. (3) Ru le s m a de und e r this s ec tion sh a ll be p u blis h e d in the o ff i c i a l G a z e tte , a nd sh a ll th ere upon h a v e effec t a s if e n ac t e d in this O r din a n ce . 12. [ A m e n d m e n t of C h i l d M a rr iage R e s tr ai n t A c t , 1929 ( XIX o f 1929). ] O m i tte d b y the Federal Laws (Revision and declaration) O r d inance, 1981 (XXVII of 1981), s. 3 and Sch., II. 13. [ A m e n d m e n t of t h e D isso lu t ion of M u s l i m M a rr iag e s A c t , 19 3 9 ( VIII of 1939) ]. O m i tte d b y the Federal Laws (Revision and declaration) O r d inance, 1981 (XXVII of 1981), s. 3 and Sch., II. __________________ 1 Subs. by A.O., 1964, Art. 2 and Sch., for “Provincial Government”. 2 Subs. by F.A.O., 1975, Art., 2 and Table, for “Central Government”.