Govt seeks two months for nikahnama update

Peshawar:

The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government has requested a two-month period to implement the inclusion of mandatory blood tests—such as Thalassemia, Hepatitis, AIDS, and other blood disease screenings—in the nikahnama (marriage contract) form.

The Peshawar High Court (PHC) has adjourned further hearings on the case until May 25 and has sought a report from the provincial government.

A PHC bench, comprising Justice Ijaz Khan Sabi and Justice Mudasser Amir, heard a writ petition filed by Advocate Muhammad Nasir Ghilzai. He argued that, as the inter-provincial coordinator of the Association of International Lawyers, he filed the petition to make thalassemia, hepatitis, HIV, and other essential blood tests mandatory in marriage certificates. This, he asserted, would help prevent these diseases and protect future generations.

The petitioner emphasized that including blood test clauses in the marriage certificate would play a crucial role in disease prevention.

In response, the government stated that all relevant officers, officials, and the general public—including marriage registrars—are being informed about the requirement for these tests before marriage. Additionally, marriage registrars will receive training on the new policy.

The petitioner highlighted that approximately six to seven percent of Pakistan’s population suffers from hereditary blood diseases like thalassemia. He noted that the number of thalassemia major patients in the country, who rely on blood transfusions, is estimated to be between 50,000 and 100,000, with cousin marriages being a leading cause.

During the hearing, the Additional Advocate General informed the court that a revised nikahnama format has been prepared, incorporating mandatory pre-marriage blood tests. The new format was presented in court, and it was stated that an additional two months are needed to distribute the updated nikahnama to Union Councils.