CHICHAWATNI – A citizen’s decision to contract a second marriage without the legal permission of his first wife has led to criminal charges and arrests in the suburban village of Chak 14-11L.
Following a complaint lodged by the first wife, identified as Abida, the Chichawatni Sadar Police took swift action, arresting the groom, the second bride, and initiating proceedings against the witnesses of the marriage.
Legal Violation and Police Intervention
The incident came to light when Abida approached the authorities, stating that her husband had entered into a second marriage in violation of the Muslim Family Laws Ordinance, 1961. Under Pakistani law, a man must obtain a written “No Objection Certificate” (NOC) from his first wife or the Arbitration Council before marrying again.
The police have registered a case under the following sections of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC):
Section 494: Marrying again during the lifetime of a husband or wife.
Section 148: Rioting, armed with a deadly weapon.
Section 149: Every member of an unlawful assembly guilty of an offence committed in prosecution of a common object.
Arrests Made
According to police reports, two primary suspects have been taken into custody:
Arslan Masih (The Groom)
Anita Javed (The Second Bride)
Investigation teams are currently conducting further inquiries into the role of the witnesses and the person who solemnized the marriage, as they are also named in the First Information Report (FIR).
The Law on Second Marriages in Pakistan
While religious law permits polygamy under specific conditions, the state law in Pakistan imposes strict procedural requirements to protect the rights of the first wife.
| Requirement | Description |
| Written Permission | The husband must apply to the Union Council/Arbitration Council. |
| First Wife’s Consent | The Arbitration Council notifies the first wife to record her stance. |
| Penalties for Violation | Up to 1 year of imprisonment and/or a fine of up to 500,000 PKR. |
| Financial Consequence | The husband must immediately pay the entire dower (Haq Mehr) to the first wife. |
Note: Even if the second marriage is considered religiously valid, failure to follow the statutory procedure makes it a criminal offense under the law of the land.