Islamabad (Web Desk): The Supreme Court on Wednesday made it mandatory for a man to obtain consent from his first wife or an arbitration council before marrying for the second time.
A two-judge bench, comprising Justice Umar Ata Bandial and Justice Sayyed Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi, ruled it mandatory for a man to immediately pay his first wife the entire dower agreed to should he opt for a second marriage.
The law requiring permission from the first wife before a second marriage was aimed at society's reformation, the court remarked, adding that its violation may lead to many problems.
The verdict came in response to an appeal against a decision by the Peshawar High Court (PHC), ordering a man to immediately pay mehr (dower) to his first wife for contracting a second marriage without her permission.
Section 6 of the Muslim Family Laws Ordinance, 1961, prohibits contracting second marriage without prior permission in writing of the Arbitration Council, the court observed.