How many wives can a man have in Pakistan? (2023)

Can a man have multiple wives in Pakistan?

Many of the countries that permit polygamy have Muslim majorities, and the practice is rare in many of them. Fewer than 1% of Muslim men live with more than one spouse in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Iran and Egypt – all countries where the practice is legal at least for Muslims.

In societies that practice polygamy, the specific type is polygyny, which is having more than one wife (polyandrous unions, of having more than one husband, are much less common). Muslim societies allow for up to four wives, but not without specific rules and regulations.

Legal developments

Thus polygamy became illegal in India in 1956, uniformly for all of its citizens except for Muslims, who are permitted to have four wives and for Hindus in Goa and along the western coast where bigamy is legal. A polygamous Hindu marriage is null and void.

Polygamy in Pakistan is legally permissible according to the law of 1961, but restricted. Only males adhering to the Islamic faith are legally allowed to enter into polygamous unions, with a maximum of four wives at one time. Legally, only Muslim citizens are allowed to enter Polygamous marriage.

The spouse can apply for permission in the union council as indicated by the second marriage laws in Pakistan. Furthermore, there ought to be strong reason for second marriage. Taking everything into account, the union council can help in giving permission for second marriage in Pakistan.

Polygamy is the practice of having more than one spouse at the same time. Polygamy as a crime originated in the common law, and it is now outlawed in every state. In the United States, polygamy was declared unlawful through the passing of Edmunds Anti-Polygamy Act of 1882.

Legality and recognition of polygamy around the world

In regions such as these, in which polygamy is outlawed but tolerated, there is no legal recognition for additional spouses after the first. Polygamy is illegal and criminalized in every country in North and South America, including all 50 U.S. states.

Polyandry is a form of polygamy in which a woman takes two or more husbands at the same time. For example, fraternal polyandry is practiced among Tibetans in Nepal, parts of China and part of northern India, in which two or more brothers are married to the same wife, with the wife having equal “sexual access” to them.

Polygamy is allowed as per the UAE's law. A Muslim male may have four wives, provided he offers equal sustenance and equal treatment to all. Here are the key legal requirements for Muslim marriages: Marriage contract needs to be registered in a Sharia court in the UAE.

How many wives can you have in Saudi Arabia?

Polygamy. Polygamy is legal in Saudi Arabia, whereby a man may have up to four wives. However, a man is only allowed to take multiple wives if he can meet certain conditions under shari'a law. For example, he must have the financial capacity to afford another marriage and provide for another wife and her family.

Chapter 10 issued by the synod declared that marriage is allowed between one man and one woman, and separation (but not divorce) is only granted in the case of adultery, but even then remarriage is not allowed.

No. China carries out the monogamous marriage system. The act of entering into a marriage with one person while still legally married to another are called bigamy in China, which is invalid and also constitutes a crime. Criminal Law of China: Article 258.

Today it is illegal in India amongst Hindus. As for a Hindu or a person who practices Hinduism, polygamy is both prohibited and illegal. Both under the Indian Law and as per the Hindu Marriage Act. Now, it's illegal for a Hindu to marry more than one person or keeping two spouses at the same time.

For example, in some Islamic, Hindu, and even Christian countries, polygamy is a normal practice or is otherwise tolerated. Some Native American, Indigenous Australian, and Mongolian peoples practice “group marriage,” where the nuclear family consists of multiple husbands and multiple wives.

Divorce in Pakistan is largely governed by the Muslim Family Law Ordinance 1961. These statutory provision set out the grounds and procedure for Muslims to divorce in Pakistan. A husband may divorce his wife by pronouncing the Talaq.

In Pakistan, the legal age for marriage is 18 for males and 16 for females (Child Marriage Restraint Act, 1929 and Muslim Family Laws Ordinance, 1961), despite acceptance of the definition of child uner CRC as anyone under 18 years of age.

Pakistan Penal Code of 1860

In addition to the legislation discussed above, an amendment to the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) passed in 2017 declares child marriage a non-bailable criminal offense, punishable by imprisonment of up to seven years.

Any person who entres into second marriage without permission of his first wife or arbitration council is liable to imprisonment for upto one year and fine upto PKR 500,000/- [Polygamy 6(5)]

Relationships. Cohabitation by an unmarried couple is illegal.

What is the punishment for second wife?

—Whoever, having a husband or wife living, marries in any case in which such marriage is void by reason of its taking place during the life of such husband or wife, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to seven years, and shall also be liable to fine.

Family Law Implications of Polygamy

All U.S. jurisdictions prohibit polygamy by invalidating marriages involving more than two spouses. State laws against bigamy—getting married to someone while still legally married to another person—are usually grounds for an annulment.

Legal situation

Polygamy is illegal in Mexico, despite the above cases. In the Federal Penal Code, there is a section called "Against Civil Status and Bigamy".

The three of them live together without being married as polygamy is illegal in Japan. Together, they call themselves the "Iyasaka family". The place where they live is called Sekai no Iyasaka mura, which means "The World's Iyasaka Village".

Polygamy, which is having more than one husband or wife, has been banned in Thailand since 1935. That particular ruling means only his first wife, Waraphon Pruksawan, is legally married to him. Despite this, all the children born to him and his other 'wives' take his surname.

The share of individuals living in polygamous households is highest in Burkina Faso (36 percent), Mali (34 percent) and Gambia (30 percent). It tends to vary based on religious affiliation, however. For example, eight percent of Christians in Nigeria live in a polygamous household compared with 40 percent of Muslims.

Under Islamic law, men can have as many as four wives. However, most men have only one. Many women prefer to be an only wife, and Islamic law dictates that wives must be treated equally and can veto an additional wife.

soutan can be termed as sout. Explanation: सौतन means second wife .

She lives differently from most people in her community, she has never cut her hair, has the ability to raise the dead, and is the wife to seven husbands. This is the life of a revered Ugandan spiritualist, Allman, popularly known as the Female Samson.

polyandry, marriage of a woman to two or more men at the same time; the term derives from the Greek polys, “many,” and anēr, andros, “man.” When the husbands in a polyandrous marriage are brothers or are said to be brothers, the institution is called adelphic, or fraternal, polyandry.

Is it legal for a man to have multiple wives?

Polygamy as a crime originated in the common law, and it is now outlawed in every state. In the United States, polygamy was declared unlawful through the passing of Edmunds Anti-Polygamy Act of 1882.

Polyandry is a form of polygamy in which a woman takes two or more husbands at the same time. For example, fraternal polyandry is practiced among Tibetans in Nepal, parts of China and part of northern India, in which two or more brothers are married to the same wife, with the wife having equal “sexual access” to them.

In Pakistan, arranged marriages are the norm and love marriage is rare in the society. Several cases of honour killing are recorded every year. In most cases, the woman is killed, however in some cases couples are killed.

Additionally, the U.S. Department of State notes that the residence and domicile of the person initiating the divorce also matters. If the courts find that neither party was residing in Pakistan when the divorce was initiated or was attempted to be finalized, it's possible that U.S. courts won't recognize the divorce.

In Pakistan, adultery is a crime under the Hudood Ordinance, promulgated in 1979. The Ordinance sets a maximum penalty of death. The Ordinance has been particularly controversial because it requires a woman making an accusation of rape to provide extremely strong evidence to avoid being charged with adultery herself.

No state permits its citizens to enter into more than one concurrent, legally-licensed marriage. People who attempt to, or are able to, secure a second marriage license are generally prosecuted for bigamy.

In the United States, it is unlawful to be married to more than one person at a time. Violating this law can have criminal and civil repercussions.

Countries With Lowest Divorce Rate

Vietnam has the lowest divorce rate in the world, with 26.6 divorces per 100,000 people. Guatemala follows at 49.4 divorces per 100,000 people, and Peru comes in third with 50.7 divorces per 100,000 people.

For example, in some Islamic, Hindu, and even Christian countries, polygamy is a normal practice or is otherwise tolerated. Some Native American, Indigenous Australian, and Mongolian peoples practice “group marriage,” where the nuclear family consists of multiple husbands and multiple wives.

What states in America can you have multiple wives?

Polygamy is illegal in all 50 states. But Utah`s law is unique in that a person can be convicted not only because they have two legal marriage licenses, but also for living with another adult in a marriage-like relationship if they are already legally married to someone else.

Bigamy is the act of marrying one person while legally married to another. Bigamy is a criminal offense in most states, including California. Bigamy in California is prosecuted under Penal Code sections 281 to 283.

The Israeli law recognizes only one wife. But if the husband decides to engage in (cohabitation), the Israeli authorities would have to recognize these women as legal wives and will impose penalties against the husband for violating the Israeli law banning polygamy.”