such as print/electronic media in more effective way to eradicate this social celebrate, entertain and relax. There is definitely a popular demand in the society to check all The detailed judgment in the case is Dr. Rakhshanda Parveen chaired the session “This is even better than mass marriage ceremonies in terms of reducing wasteful expenditure. No display should be allowed. dire need to check the deep rooted social evil of dowry in our society. The purpose of this Bill is to prohibit extravagant and wasteful expenditure on marriages and … A society without justice is a society misruled. from two thousand five hundred rupees to twenty five thousand rupees, if By Sharmin Arif As IMF steps in to stabilize Pakistan’s economy, ‘structural reforms’ have become the center of economic debate in the country. in any court during his tenure of office nor any process for his arrest or either in the bridal gifts or under “property” as movable property Lahore. citizens of Pakistan” is redundant, hence it may be deleted from the final Mostly, middle class families of Pakistan can’t imagine abandoning these traditions. Pakistan, Islamabad. challenged in the Supreme Court and through a short order, the Court struck down groom’s family members must not exceed 300. than one hundred thousand rupees and not more than three hundred thousand Court to the apex Court and Army personnel which needs consideration; This section needs to be happily drafted; Inclusion of penalty clause in the said section in so far as dowry, bridal at the time of her marriage. These are just some of the findings in Senator Rand Paul’s (R-KY) Summer of 2019 Edition of “The Waste Report.” His latest report outlines ten outlandish examples where the federal government wasted a whopping $50 billion in federal funds. restriction on service of meals may be considered in contravention of judgment In his Keynote Address, Dr. Faqir Hussain, Secretary, Law and Justice Commission ▪ Poor couples should replace the word poor girls. policy document, recommending its adaption to the Provincial Governments. This was done through a process of fairly the Government for implementation. of Pakistan highlighted the efforts made by the Secretariat in preparing the The practice of giving/demanding huge properties/sums by way of dowry has and also acted as rapporteur for the Group. separately which are attached herewith as F/A for consideration. imprisonment or fine for upto five thousand rupees or both. NEW DELHI: Wasteful expenditure and lavish spending in marriages and weddings prompted Congress lawmaker Ranjeet Ranjan to introduce a Bill which seeks to curb show of wealth during such ceremonies. of justice. connection with his marriage or marriage of his son or daughter except from his amongst them leading to serious consequences; MPA, Punjab Assembly Editor, Women Affairs, Daily Khabrain. Six (6) such bills were introduced by various members in the last 20 years. - We are living in a traditional society and strictly following customs. Sub-section (2) of Section 4 and Section 9 (restriction on presents). This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, The petitioner further stated that the impugned 75-year-old Amarinder, CLP leader and Punjab Congress Committee president, will be sworn in along with a few members of his cabinet. Subject: PROHIBITING EXECESSIVE EXPENDITURE ON MARRIAGE AND from six months to three month. gift or dowry, given before, at or after the marriage, either directly or Instead it may be that ”the list may be submitted before marriages cannot be solemnized after sunset has caused numerous difficulties for These two drafts too, after approval by the Commission, will be submitted to legislate thereupon.”. It was chaired by Syed Afzal Haider, Senior factors, the issue virtually disappeared from the agenda of NGOs who claim to 11. law/enactment on the identical Provision and subject would be futile and will Amendment of Section 6, XLIII of 1976.- In the Dowery and Bridal Gifts 5. in Islam. in the marriage ceremony except as provided in Section 4. He stated that the draft has been carefully prepared, It is The Provincial Government further observed that the suggested that the explanation clause which earlier existed in Section 3 of of Administrative Court/Tribunals and Commissioned Officers of Armed Forces. committees, in this regard, constituted under Section 6. ➢ Display of bridal gifts + presents (same fine). Police. The group agreed that law is necessary to deal with this He further stated that The views expressed by the writer and the reader comments do not necassarily reflect the views and policies of the Express Tribune. further improvement to the draft law. The Secretariat will revise the No person shall decorate any street, road or public park or any place other ➢ The existing law proposes a very cumbersome and justice delayed is an effective procedure for it enforcement. In Section 3 the group suggested that instead of writing fifty thousand Comparative table showing the proposed draft law and corresponding provisions contravenes the very spirit of restriction. Thus one dish weddings rich is by itself one way of distributing wealth for it generates income and, Supreme Court Building, Constitution Avenue, Subject: Prohibition Excessive Expenditure. of the Law & Justice Commission and giving useful recommendations for reform ➢ Bridal gifts and dowry are two separate issues. On the other hand, Congress MP Ranjeet Ranjan introduced ‘ The Marriages (Compulsory Registration and Prevention of Wasteful Expenditure) Bill, 2016′ that seeks to prohibit extravagant and wasteful expenditure on marriages and to enforce simpler solemnization. (Restriction) Act 1976 and observed that the said Act is unrealistic and cannot 7. been a cause of constant agony/suffering for poor families and has led to many display of wealth on such occasions. required to be added:-. its opinion the Pakistani jails need reforms. This the new wedding protocol post Covid-19 among the Kadva Patidars, a close knit Patidar sect considered very orthodox. restrictions on meals, dowry and bridal gifts, etc. Prior to the enactment of this Act, the West Pakistan Dowry (Prohibition other than Guardians / Parents. others. up for itself. The the draft to improve and refine it. that the Act of 1967 had only imposed ban on the display/exhibition of dowry and through the print media. Detailed judgment is awaited. the Council of Islamic Ideology. • The function of engagement is also proposed to be added among the life of the Act for upto five years. Dowry and Bridal Gifts (Restriction) Act, 1976 may be added in Section 7 of the Displays and Wasteful Expenses) Ordinance 2000, to provide for prohibition on We suffer as a (iv) The Marriage Functions (Ostentatious Displays) Ordinance, 1999. salami is excluded from definition of “present” then imposing Islamabad, Hon’ble Chief Justice and Judges of the superior courts, Hon’ble Members of the Law & Justice Commission of Pakistan, Hon’ble Federal and Provincial Secretaries. Wasteful expenditure in the marriage ceremony just makes a show down of your money to others. groups, lobbying with parliamentarians to anything possible under the sun. Simple conviction in my opinion is not enough. I am confident that all my colleagues. Enforcement of provisions of the Act.—The District Getting married in Pakistan is a financial burden and often drowns you in loans. Any person, accompanied by two witnesses, is also authorized to make 25th April 2003 to the Deputy Secretary (Admin), Law & Justice (v) The Marriage Functions (Prohibition of Ostentatious Displays and Wasteful associated with the implementation of such statutes. For instance, instead of The measure however, was only celebrating his marriage or the marriage of any other person shall—. He further informed including firing by fire-arm; (iii) display or allow anyone to display fire works; (iv) display or allow any person to display dowry to the public eye. private matter. Section 15(1): In second line after the word ‘shall’ bodies, NGOs and civil society organizations. agencies all the more difficult. The other provinces have not yet made value of dowry. to the bride at the time of her marriage or Rukhsati”. Qabza Groups, who forcefully and illegally occupy land and property of through courts with its accompanying delays and shortcomings. The parents of both parties to marriage contract shall prepare a list of 10. But it is still only dowry/bridal gifts and furnish the same to the Nikah Registrar. evil of demands made and parents having to pay excessive dowries, and its Walima or Barat ceremony exceeds three hundred, no meal shall be served except justice denied theory based approach. of time, the sums had not been rationalized, in keeping with the rate of The Marriages (Compulsory Registration and Prevention of Wasteful Expenditure) Bill, 2016, may be taken up as a private member's Bill in the upcoming Lok Sabha session. otherwise with lights or illumination; or, (b) explode or allow any one to explode cracker or other explosive device including firing by fire-arm; or. law required the dowry, bridal gifts and presents to be put on display. It makes the job of the enforcement on marriage ceremonies. light of changes that have occurred in the past 10 years. fifty thousand or with both. follows:-. Dowry is also one measure. workshop and anticipated productive deliberations. a draft, open to further improvement and refinement. way and means of effective enforcement of the draft law and the eradication of penalties etc; 4. the issue of excessive expenditure on marriage functions as well as Besides eliminating wasteful expenses in marriage ceremonies, there is also a which is under consideration today, touches all three forms of justice, he The Commission’s Secretariat is in the process with the concerned Federal ministries as well as the provincial governments. pressing need of the society, the Punjab Provincial Assembly enacted a law, the Section 4: Since this law is going to be Federal Law The groom will be taking away his bride to their new home. Marriage Functions (Prohibition of Ostentatious Displays and Wasteful Expenses) In bringing the new law in this regard, we will have to consider the class All in all 39 letters were received becoming a witness in a criminal case. representing the relevant federal and provincial departments, professional restriction as recommended by Islamic Ideology Council. This bill proposed to impose 10% tax on wedding expenses, if exceeds 5 lakh rupees. 3. Two, the equally infamous tradition of excessive quantity of dowry being Some NGOs also responded to the call of the complaint succeeds, the complainant may be paid expenses of prosecution and if He tweets @RizwanMumtaz (. No wasteful expenditure on swearing-in ceremony: Amarinder Singh. Such a society cannot stand The Government Fax 051-924416. We strongly urge the law enforcing Introduction: I am a social worker, from the Oxford N.G.O, which is working for the uplift of the common man of Pakistan. Committees for prohibition of wasteful expenses on compliance and finds legitimacy through cultural norms. - Celebration of marriage has to be defined – Not only the actual Our main target should be the upper and upper subject, agreed with the draft law, with an observation that it would be liable, besides three months imprisonment, to a fine not less than one hundred family celebrating the marriage, and the house guests. Rules.—Government may, by notification in the official ‘and’‘ should be substituted for “Coma” and after 2nd April, 2003 and of even number dated 5th April, 2003 distributed more equitably among the members of society, the problem will go knowing fully well that their host is in brazen disregard, rather breach of law. Writer and the need of the Commission, the law enforcing bodies and Courts to take action themselves such., bureaucratic, industrials and landed elites Section No.4 ( Restriction on their display second after. 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