Nikah Registrar who fails to comply with new form will end up in jail: Elahi
Chief Minister Punjab Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi accorded a principal approval to launch Ehsaas Ration Subsidy Programme and decided to grant Rs 1500/ monthly income to the poor people instead of giving those Rs 1000/ under the Ehsaas Ration Subsidy Programme.
Under the Ehsaas Ration Subsidy Programme the impoverished people will be given flour, pulses and ghee at a subsidised rate.CM directed to constitute a Ministerial Steering Committee for the implementation of the Ehsaas Ration Subsidy Programme. The Steering Committee will be headed by Dr.Sania Nishtar.CM disclosed that a working group will also be constituted with regard to the Ehsaas Ration Subsidy Programme adding that an effective monitoring system will be formulated with regard to the implementation on the Ehsaas Ration Subsidy Programme.
Pervaiz Elahi directed to prepare an Ehsaas Act for the Ehsaas programmes. He informed that the Ehsaas Act will be approved by the Assembly.
CM directed to consolidate various social protection programmes on a single platform and asserted to again review the social protection programmes and all programmes should be combined together.
He termed Ehsaas programme for the welfare of humanity and the people deprived of social protection in the society is the responsibility of the state. CM termed Ehsaas Ration Subsidy Programme a mega step towards eradicating poverty and building a welfare state.
Dr. Sania Nishtar gave a briefing about the salient features of Ehsaas Ration Subsidy Programme, Ehsaas Card and Ehsaas Protection Programme. Provincial Minister Dr. Yasmeen Rashid, Dr. Sania Nishtar, Adviser to CM Omar Sarfraz Cheema, MNA Moonis Elahi, former Chairman P&D Salman Ghani, former Principal Secretary to CM GM Sikandar, Chairman Planning & Development, Director General Rescue 1122 and concerned officials attended the meeting.
Meanwhile, The Punjab government under Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi last week amended the nikahnama, or nikah form, to include a declaration about the finality of the prophethood of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).
Now, Elahi has announced that any nikah registrar who fails to use the new nikah form will end up in jail for month one.
Elahi has also instructed the concerned authorities to ensure the availability of new nikah forms across the province. A nikah is usually solemnized by local prayer leaders registered with the government. Known as nikah khawan or nikah registrar, they fill up several columns of nikahnama before solemnizing the marriage.
Speaking with Maulana Muhammad Hanif Jalandhari, the general secretary of Wifaq ul Madaris Al-Arabia Pakistan, Elahi said that nikah registrars who fail to use the new form will face a one-month jail term and a fine.
Jalandhari called on Elahi in Lahore on Sunday and appreciated the chief minister for his decision to amend the nikah form.
He said that Pervaiz Elahi has rendered a great service to the religion of Islam and will be remembered for it.
Jalandhari also lauded Elahi’s efforts to promote religious harmony in Punjab.
The amended nikahnama requires the bride and the groom to declare that they believe in the finality of the prophethood of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).
The decision to amend the nikan form was taken under then-Chief Minister Usman Buzdar before he step down at the end of March 2022.
A statement issued by the Punjab government said that the provincial cabinet, under Buzdar, approved an amendment to Muslim Family Laws Ordinance on March 1, 2022.
The decision followed a Punjab Assembly resolution passed unanimously on October 26, 2021 and demanding that a declaration about the finality of the Prophethood (PBUH) be included on the nikah form.
