LAHORE: In an effort to advance legal equity, a coalition of seven human rights and development organisations, in collaboration with the National Commission on the Status of Women (NCSW) and minority rights activists, hosted a two-day national consultation on proposed reforms to the Christian Personal Laws (CPL).

The dialogue brought together over 180 key stakeholders, including parliamentarians, legal experts, academics, and faith leaders to drive overdue legislative updates to the Christian Marriage Act of 1872 and the Christian Divorce Act of 1869.

The primary objective of the convening was to urge the federal government to end nearly a decade of legislative gridlock and expedite the passage of the draft bill on the Christian Personal Laws, pending since 2017.

The consultation opened with a panel discussion moderated by Atif Jameel advocate, bringing together key stakeholders to examine challenges and explore pathways for the CPL reforms.

Speaking on the topic, Anthony Naveed, deputy speaker Sindh Assembly, stated, “Power and vision can create a great impact, and through collective efforts, such as this consultation today, meaningful change is possible.”

Ejaz Alam Augustine, MPA Punjab Assembly, highlighted the importance of family institutions and stressed the urgent need to address existing flaws in personal laws while Mahesh Kumar, MPA Sindh Assembly, called for amendments to the Muslim Marriage Act as well, emphasising equal attention towards necessary legal reforms.

Sanjay Kumar, MPA Balochistan Assembly, also remarked during the discussion, “Every religion has room for flexibility, and we must identify and utilise that space for positive reform.”

The second panel discussion was moderated by Romana Basheer, focusing on theological perspectives and the evolving nature of legal and social responsibilities within the Christian community.

Emphasising the evolutionary nature of justice, Bishop Abraham Daniel stated, “Laws must change to reflect the evolving needs of society. This is a collective responsibility we bear for ourselves and for future generations.”

Addressing the sensitive nature of marital dissolution, Rev. Dr. Muazzam John added, “While divorce exists within Christian theology, the disagreement lies in the legal grounds on which it is granted. It must be remembered that compassion must prevail, as oppression within marriage is fundamentally contrary to faith.”

The consultation brought together a powerful cross-party assembly of lawmakers, including Punjab Assembly MPAs Shakeela Javed and Chaudhry Waseem Anjum Sandhu, KP Assembly MPA Askar Pervez, and Sham Sunder Advani, Special Assistant to the Chief Minister on Minority Affairs.

Published in Dawn, May 20th, 2026