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Polygamy: A serious issue is a joke for lawmakers in Pakistan
 A veiled Pakistani woman carries a child as she marches in a rally on the eve of International Women’s Day in Lahore March 7. While women turned out Sunday to demonstrate for their rights in a country that lacks laws on domestic abuse, lawmakers are debating whether polygamy should be allowed. [Arif Ali/AFP/Getty Images] |
Islamabad -- The serious issue of polygamy turned out to be a source of amusement for lawmakers in Pakistan.
Pakistani laws allow a man to contract a second marriage only after obtaining the express consent of his first wife.
Pakistani and Islamic laws exist to discourage this practice by imposing stringent restrictions on polygamy; however, the culture of contracting more than one marriage is still prevalent, particularly in rural societies.
It came as a surprise for women in Pakistan when a female legislator in the Punjab Assembly, Samina Khawar Hayat, forcefully pleaded the case for amending the existing laws that bar men from contracting second marriage without the consent of first wife.
“We need to amend laws and allow men to marry a second, third, even a fourth time without seeking permission from the first wife”, Samina, of the Pakistan Muslim League, told lawmakers in the Punjab assembly.
The issue of polygamy came up for discussion in the last week of February during a debate on a motion regarding recruitment of unmarried women in government departments.
“I stand by my words”, Samina told Central Asia Online by phone from Lahore. “I will not talk on this issue anymore”, she said before disconnecting the phone.
Polygamy also provided some entertainment for lawmakers in the national parliament.
“More than 80% of lawmakers (in the National Assembly) have contracted two or more marriages”, Nabeel Gabool, a landlord from Sind and senior leader of the ruling Pakistan People’s Party, told the National Assembly.
Gabool’s unverified statistic prompted several lawmakers to laugh loudly, but, it embarrassed many others — the polygamist parliamentarians.
Talking in parliament hallways to journalists, Gabool said he was joking. However, he also said he strongly believes most parliamentarians have contracted either secret or publicly accepted marriages.
Gabool was speaking on polygamy during a debate started by Sherry Rehman, his party colleague and a former federal information minister.
“This august house shall seek the resignation of Punjab Assembly (provincial) member Samina Khawar Hayat for advocating polygamy in contravention of the law”, Rehman said from the floor of the assembly.
Polygamy was no joking matter for the visibly agitated conservatives, particularly the clerics sitting on the floor.
“Islam allows men to marry four (wives)”, Maulana Abdul Malik, of the Jamiat Ulmai-e-Islam party, told the house. “No law whatsoever can stop what the Quran allows us categorically to do“.
Pressure was already mounting on Samina to resign for speaking in favour of polygamy, and Rehman’s timely push in the National Assembly would have essentially sealed Samina’s fate, if Gabool had not blunted the campaign’s momentum.
Condemning what Gabool said in the National Assembly and what Samina said in the Punjab assembly, National Assembly member Bushra Gohar said the parliamentarians have turned a very serious issue into farce.
Bushra said polygamy is an issue of life and death for women and children.
“It is sickening that elected representatives in parliament are making joke of it”, Bushra said, adding that the attitude shows the feudal mentality of parliamentarians toward women’s problems.
Bushra, who was a women’s rights activist before entering politics and joining the nationalist Awami National Party, said that Samina might be fed up with her own husband when she publicly asked him to marry more than two wives.
Talking to a television reporter in front of the Punjab Assembly building in Lahore, Samina addressed her husband in full-throated voice, “Khawar Hayat sahib, you can marry two, three but four wives, I have no objection”.
Bushra said both ordinary and Islamic laws do not allow men to marry a second wife, adding that Islam is often misinterpreted.
“If I interpret Islamic law, it gives no permission for second marriage, but if a Molvi does it, then there is allowance for four wives”, Bushra said. “Permission from the first wife carries no weight in Pakistani society”.
A housewife, Najma Jehan, said no sane woman would support repealing of laws barring men from contracting a second marriage without the consent of the first wife.
“For a woman, it is better to die than to accept a suthan (second wife of a husband in local dialect)”, Najma said, adding immediately, “Once somebody else shares your husband, life becomes hell for you”.
Reader Comments
In the Name of Allah Most Gracious, Most Merciful. I would like to add here the whole issue in context of \"Justice\", anything which is not justice can not be Islam that is for granted even critics of Islam shall admit. The matter of polygamy, is miss understood not only by the critics of Islam but also by its own followers. It must be made clear that it is something \"mandatory\" and not \"optional or obligatory\" in true spiritual context of the teachings of Islam and justice. It happens through Will of Allah, if someone earns status through his deeds which Allah knows better, and becomes a real man with real moral character then Allah May confer upon him, the responsibility of taking care of more than one Eve\'s Daughter as his wife. More than one marriages done under the scope of which is written above, always stay successful as women do love their husband whole heartedly as it comes out of Will and not the lust of a man for bed. Polygamy is something sacred and not enigma. Muslims must feel proud that Allah provided clear directions in Quran and Sunnah on the topic and we should not bring in our own statements. It is allowed and it will continue to be practiced with chin up. A study tells on average singly man in USA sleeps with eight women in his life, beyond wed lock. It is really Allah\'s blessing to sleep with eve\'s daughter as wife and not for sex purpose. This is the true respect Islam gives to a woman. May Allah guide my sisters also who take it as enigma. And the men whom Allah Guides towards polygamy should also justify it the way Allah\'s system of justice requires them to indulge in it. Amen!
If you are muslim then you have to obey verdict of Islam in true sprits otherwise labeling of Islam has no sense.
waseem
We Muslims should follow Quran n Sunna in evry walk of life. Nobody dare change the verdict contained in Quran al Kareem Unfortunately Most of our country\'s laws are UN-ISLAMIC It is surprising HOW people in Pakistan call themselves Muslim whenI slamic Laws are not practiced in letter n spirit. We don\'t have in our hearts :Allah Ka Khauf\" n this is most importantly needed. Undoubtedly Islam allows Muslims to have upto 4 wives dpending equal treatment with them.No permission required from 1st wife to marry another. No such thing available in AHADEETH about this from Nabi Kareem SAW or Khulfa-e Rashedeen or Ulma o Mashaikh or Buzurgan-e deen.Same about Divorce No Permission required from anybody. Allah hamrey dilon mein IMAAN dein our Munafaqat khatam ker dein Aameen
Polygamy - the opposite of Monogamy - is not a simple word. The issue being discussed in Pakistani parliament is related to \"POLYGYNY\", not \"POLYGAMY\". Polygamy generally includes: I- Polygyny (one husband, many wives) II- Polyandry (one wife, many husbands) III- Group Marriages (many husbands, many wives) So while discussing the issue, you must use the word \"polygyny\" which is the only accepted form of polygamous marriage in Islam, with absolute consent of the earlier wife/wives. Islam asks the husband to do the justice between/among the wives, and adds that justice is not easy. Gender ratio in Pakistan, according to reliable sources, is 108 WOMEN to 100 MEN. So Polygyny is not a scandalous phenomenon. In such a situation, it is essential to creat a general content, social justice and an adultery-free society. Polygyny being a social accommodation for the widows, unmarried women or other special cases is a scalpel, not cancer. I\'m unable to understand why people take it as a permit for everyone, and why our legislators laugh at such sensitive deliberations. W need the clear understandings and the learned legislators need to be careful...
this issue about Multiple marriages (polygamy in the west) should NOT be taken out of context!!-- The Koran only allows it under certain conditions--NOT FOR GOOD SEX!! When women were (BEHVA) and Slaves etc etc-it was allowed--- Not for every Mullah to have a (GOOD TIME!!) However from a Sociological point of view- Man is adulterous by nature and looked at it medically it takes the edge off the man-woman relationships!! Therefore as thinking humans who are evolving intellectually and through History people should be made aware of the tremendous responsibilities that go with it---The Prophet(SAW) was clestially blessd and his thinking should be studied and ghen decisions made in both contexts--without emotion and fighting --May ALLAH be praised
Let us not make a mockery of our great religion Islam. There are very stringent conditions laid down in Islam for contracting one or more wives. We MUST first read the commandments and then comment on them. We MUSY read the statistics and news on adultery in the West where polygamy is \'outlawed.\' We cant blame religion or try to amend the commandments in the Holy Quran and Hadith of our free will under the garb of modernism. Nabeel Gabol or Sherry Rehman are no authority on the subject. Punjab Assembly member Samina Khawar had the guts to tell the truth. We MUST salute her for upholding the truth and refrain from casting aspersions on her.
Polygamy is a very appalling activity. It is justified through the self-oriented interpretation with the reference of Quran and Sunnah to fulfill sexual lust by some laggards in society. There is nothing as pleasurable as \"monogamy\" to live a happy and joyful life. Husband and wife must be co-operative, loving, helpful and caring to each other in the matrimonial circle of life. If these both magnetic forces are loyal and sacrificial with each other than \"polygamy\" stands nowhere to earn. Although, the practice of polygamy is taken for the timely or unnecessary concerns, yet we have a very conscious propensity for the justification of polygamy. Ali Imran Chadhar 0300-7070494
The consent/permission for 2nd marriage from first wife is not necessary according the Islamic Sharia because in Islam there is no any kind of restrictions on a Muslim male for having more wives if he can manage rather than going for illegal sex. Being a Law student, I have read many Books and consulted the religious scholars for this point of view and I can’t find any restriction of 2nd marriage on Muslim male and the permission/consent from first wife is also un Islamic clause available in Muslim personal Law of Pakistan. There is no other remedy for Widowed and divorced ladies to get a shared husband rather than going for prostitution. I agree that there is a sacrifice of first wife but it could bring the happiness in society. I have firm believe in Islamic teachings and I also believe there is no harm/hurt by following the Quran and Sunnah. This theme is designed by God and there are vested benefits hidden in this theory and it is good for social setup. (either we can understand it or not, due to our low mental capacity), (God forbid) God is not cruel and he is the God of Male & Female. So he knows better. I have seen/realized it very closely, My wife,s, Grand father, and my many other relatives have 2 wives and they are living a very happy life. Not a big problem to follow the Islamic Sharia rather than going for illegal activities. I am also fully prepared for 2nd marriage and if anyone wants to contact me regarding any Muslim divorced/widow/un married lady to become my 2nd wife. OR for proving me wrong for 2nd marriage decision.i am husnain,islamabad,dreamperishes@yahoo.com