Apex court proposes stricter penalties for unregistered marriages in its report Redefining Access to Justice 2025
Police officers walk past the Supreme Court of Pakistan building, in Islamabad, Pakistan April 6, 2022. REUTERS
The Supreme Court has outlined key family law reforms, including revising the Nikah Nama to include a column for dowry articles and proposing stricter penalties for unregistered marriages, as part of its broader judicial reform agenda detailed in its report Redefining Access to Justice 2025.
Under the family law reforms, the apex court has recommended clearly defining key terms such as ‘maintenance’ and ‘dower’ in the Muslim Family Laws Ordinance (MFLO) of 1961 to eliminate ambiguities that often lead to inconsistent judgments in family courts. The reforms also propose enhanced penalties for unregistered marriages to strengthen women’s legal protections and ensure accountability in matrimonial matters.
The report further suggests allowing the transfer of family law cases to the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) to streamline proceedings and improve case management across jurisdictions.
The Redefining Access to Justice 2025 report highlights that the family law reforms are part of an inclusive law reform process involving senior advocates, judges, and the Advisory Committee on Law Reforms, which is steering multiple legal modernisation initiatives.
Alongside legal reforms, the Supreme Court has also prioritised digital transformation to enhance transparency and public accessibility. More than 16,000 e-filings, 7,200 e-affidavits, and over 24,000 certified copies have been processed electronically across registries, while 54,473 judgments have been digitised for archival purposes with QR code authentication and NADRA integration for verified credentials.
A National Judicial Information Dashboard now provides real-time monitoring of cases, and a public facilitation system—including an online feedback portal, anti-corruption hotline, and information centres—has been launched to strengthen citizen engagement.
Through these judicial and digital reforms, the Supreme Court aims to build a justice system that is transparent, accessible, and responsive to contemporary social realities.
