KARACHI: Christian lawyers, church representatives and civil society members have called for the withdrawal of the Sindh Christian Family Laws Bill 2026, urging the provincial government to address their concerns through broader consultation before proceeding with the proposed legislation.
The demand was made during a joint consultative meeting of the Christian Lawyers Forum Sindh and Karachi Bar Association at the Karachi Bar Association Committee Room. The bill was introduced in the Sindh Assembly earlier this month and was subsequently referred to the Standing Committee on Minorities Affairs for examination.
Lawyers Call for Further Consultation
Karachi Bar Association President Aamir Nawaz Waraich said the reservations raised by Christian lawyers and religious representatives from different denominations should be considered before legislation is enacted.
He described religious matters as sensitive and called for consultation rather than a rushed legislative process. Participants at the meeting also urged MPA Roma Mushtaq Mattoo to convey their concerns to the Sindh Assembly, party leadership and the relevant standing committee.
Mattoo assured the participants that she would present their concerns and objections to the Sindh government, party leadership and the standing committee.
Church Representatives Raise Objections
Christian Lawyers Forum Sindh General Secretary Zeeshan Ejaz briefed the meeting on the objections raised against the proposed legislation and said representatives of the Church of Pakistan and Catholic Church had not endorsed the bill in its present form.
The Catholic Church has separately stated that it neither endorsed nor approved the bill in its current form and said it had submitted written objections and recommendations to the relevant authorities.
Representatives from different Christian groups, including lawyers, pastors and civil society members, also expressed concerns and supported calls for further consultation.
Bill Referred to Sindh Assembly Committee
The Sindh Christian Family Laws Bill 2026 was introduced by Sindh Assembly Deputy Speaker Anthony Naveed and referred on September 8 to the Standing Committee on Minorities Affairs, which was given two weeks to examine the private bill and report back to the Assembly.
The proposed legislation covers areas including Christian marriage registration, dissolution of marriage, judicial separation, maintenance, financial support, remarriage and child custody. It also proposes an 18-year minimum marriage age for both men and women and seeks to replace the existing colonial-era legal framework applicable to Christian family matters in Sindh.
Calls for Withdrawal Continue
Justice Helpline International Chairman Nadeem Sheikh, Pastor Shaukat Gill of the Pastor Fellowship Council of Pakistan and other participants supported the demand for withdrawal and called for detailed consultation with Christian religious representatives and lawyers.
Karachi Bar Association Human Rights Committee Chairman Mutiullah Gondal also supported the concerns raised at the meeting and called for consultation with stakeholders before legislation relating to religious family matters is enacted.
The meeting concluded with a call for the proposed private bill to be withdrawn and for the Sindh government, Pakistan Peoples Party leadership and the Standing Committee on Minorities Affairs to consider the concerns raised by Christian representatives.
Zeeshan Ejaz said the Christian Lawyers Forum would continue consultations and would hold another meeting in collaboration with the Sindh High Court Bar Association.