LAHORE: A judicial magistrate has handed down 11-month jail term to a man and imposed Rs250,000 fine on him for contracting second marriage without seeking mandatory permission from his first wife.

Ms Shamim of Ichhra filed a complaint through her counsel, pleading that her husband Muhammad Rashid contracted second marriage without her consent required under section 6 of the Muslim Family Law Ordinance 1961.

The counsel asked the court to punish the man under the law for committing a crime. He also produced witnesses and documentary evidence to prove the offence of the respondent.

The magistrate in his decision observed that verbal and documentary evidence presented by the complainant established that the offense was committed under the law.

Therefore, he handed down 11-month imprisonment to the respondent, with Rs250,000 fine.

The police arrested the man soon after his conviction and shifted him to jail.

However, the complainant woman expressed dissatisfaction over the quantum of the punishment awarded to her husband. She told media that her husband deserved more imprisonment for the crime he committed.

Published in Dawn, July 16th, 2019