PESHAWAR (Khyber Mail): The Peshawar High Court has granted the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government two months to introduce and implement a new Nikahnama (marriage contract) and enforce the law regarding pre-marital screening for Thalassemia and Hepatitis C.
A bench comprising Justice Muhammad Ijaz Khan and Justice Syed Mudasir Umar allowed the government’s request for time to introduce and enforce an updated Nikahnama, which includes provisions for medical examinations of the bride and groom before marriage. The Additional Advocate General (AAG) informed the bench that the government had already prepared a proposed format for the Nikahnama, which would be provided to local councils and Nikah registrars for implementation.
The AAG presented a copy of the new Nikahnama format, highlighting a section related to pre-marital testing for couples. The bench scheduled the next hearing for May 25 to address the joint petition filed by Nida Gul Gulzar and nine other workers from the women’s resource center Shirkat Gah.
The court’s decision aims to ensure the introduction of a new, comprehensive marriage contract format and the enforcement of mandatory pre-marital health screenings, addressing significant public health concerns.