LHC Imposes Huge Fine on Man for Marrying Without First Wife’s Permission

The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Thursday upheld a three-month jail term and a fine of Rs. 1 million imposed on a man for marrying a second time without securing permission from his first wife.

Chief Justice Aalia Neelum, who headed the bench, dismissed the convict’s appeal and questioned his lawyer over the justification presented. She asked whether a wife’s aging could be considered a valid reason for a husband to remarry and remarked, “If women also start doing this, what will happen to society?”

The court stressed that no excuse or personal reasoning could bypass the legal requirement of obtaining prior consent before contracting a second marriage.

The convict’s lawyer told the court that his client’s first marriage took place in 1999, while the second was contracted in 2017. He added that the man had also filed a claim regarding reconciliation with his first wife. However, when the bench asked whether this move was made before or after the second marriage, the lawyer failed to provide a clear answer.

After reviewing the case, the court ruled that no substantial grounds were presented to challenge the original verdict. The LHC therefore upheld the three-month imprisonment along with the Rs. 1 million fine.