Ministry of Law and Justice Reveals No Official Urdu Nikahnama Exists

Officials were unable to locate any officially sanctioned Urdu translation of the Nikahnama.

By DTD- On Jun 28, 2025

ISLAMABAD: The Ministry of Law and Justice has confirmed that no official Urdu version of the Nikahnama, or marriage contract, currently exists in Pakistan’s legal framework.

This came to light during a high-level meeting in Islamabad on Tuesday, where officials were surprised to learn that the official gazette only contains an English version of the document, according to sources cited by media.

The urgent meeting was convened following directives from the Lahore High Court (LHC), which has called for reforms to address flaws in the marital contract that have contributed to property disputes, particularly those affecting women. During the session, participants requested official Nikahnama forms from all provinces to identify discrepancies and gather proposals for improving the handling of matrimonial assets.

However, officials were unable to locate any officially sanctioned Urdu translation of the Nikahnama. Sources familiar with the discussions noted that, in the absence of a standard version, local authorities in Punjab, Sindh, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have been registering Nikahnamas in various local languages without legal authorization. This lack of uniformity has led to inconsistencies in translation, which officials say are fueling a rise in disputes over dower and property rights.

A separate meeting, chaired by the Federal Law Secretary, also focused on issues related to matrimonial assets and sought input from stakeholders on streamlining the resolution of marital disputes. The LHC has tasked an eight-member committee with reviewing proposed amendments to Pakistan’s Muslim Family Laws Ordinance, with particular attention to Section 10A, which deals with matrimonial property rights.