Notice seeks prior marriage, child details in Kabinnama

The government has received a legal notice requesting changes to the Muslim marriage document (Kabinnama) that would require both grooms and brides to fully disclose their previous marriages, divorces, and children. The notice was written on Thursday to the secretaries of the Law Ministry and the Inspector General of Registration by Supreme Court Advocate Ishrat Hassan, who pointed out that the present Form “Gha” under the Muslim Marriages and Divorces Rules, 2009 is still unfair and incomplete.

The notice emphasises that particular areas for disclosing and verifying former marriages, ongoing matrimonial cases, effective divorce dates, and guardianship or financial obligations to children from prior partnerships are missing from the current format. This gap allows people to hide past marriages or legal obligations, committing fraud and depriving future partners of the opportunity to make an educated life choice.

The petitioner demanded equal disclosure standards for both parties in order to guarantee openness. These criteria included the necessity that maintenance obligations, the process of dissolution, and marriage and divorce registration numbers be submitted. As specified by Section 6 of the Muslim Family Laws Ordinance, 1961, existing polygamous marriages must be clearly stated and validated using NIDs, passports, or birth certificates, along with the Arbitration Council’s written approval information.

The notice, which cited a December 11, 2025 High Court ruling on digitising marriage registrations, cautioned that if the basic form itself lacks important fields, a digital system cannot correct a faulty system. To safeguard people’s basic rights, personal dignity, and domestic stability, it is essential to modify the fundamental Kabinnama structure and assign legal verification responsibilities to marriage registrars.