KP Assembly adopts KP Marriage Functions Bill

PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly unanimously adopted the KP Marriage Functions (Prohibition of Ostentations Displays and Wasteful Expenses) Bill, 2018 besides passing of the Local Government (Amendment) Bill, 2018.

According the bill, one rice and gravy/salan along with nan/roti and a sweet dish can be served in a marriage ceremony. Only beverages can be served to the participants celebrating an engagement, mehndi or nikkah.

Under the bill, the aggregate value of gift amount or articles given to a bride by her parents or any other family member shall not exceed the amount of one hundred thousand rupees, the nikkah, baraat and walima ceremony or any other engagements shall not continue after 11 O’clock in the night and a person owning, managing or running a public place being site of marriage shall ensure conclusion of the function on or before 11pm.

The bill says no person celebrating his marriage or marriage of any other person shall decorate or cause to decorate any house, building or space appertaining thereto, street, road or place whether owned by him or otherwise with lights or illuminations, explode or allow anyone to explode crackers or others explosive device including firing by a firearm.

“Whoever contravenes, or fail to comply with, any provision of this Act shall be guilty of an offence punishable with fine not less than Rs200,000 or imprisonment for a term not exceeding three months or both.

Provided that bridal gift given by husband is absolute property of the wife under the provision of this Act and cannot be snatched away. Violation of this provision would entail a penalty in term of a fine or Rs200,000 and imprisonment of three months”, says the bill.

As per the bill, anyone from bridegroom’s family or any other on their behalf ask or force bride’s family for dowry amount or articles shall be punished with imprisonment not exceeding two months and fine of Rs300,000 or both. Offence under this Act shall be a bailable to be tried by a 1st class magistrate. And complaint shall be made in writing to the magistrate under whose jurisdiction the offence is committed within one month from the date of Nikkah or Rukhsati.

The bill is aimed at prohibiting extravagance, abstentious displays on marriage functions to prepare the society for a change in behavior and relieving the poor segments of undue burden of exorbitant expenditures.

The house also unanimously passed the KP Local Government (Amendment) Bill, 2018 while KP Censorship of Motion Picture (films) CDs, Videos, Stage Dramas and Shows) Bill, 2018 was introduced.