Draft legislation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa aims to formally recognize and regulate traditional marriage, divorce, and inheritance practices of the Kalash community.
PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has prepared draft legislation to formally recognize and protect the marriage, divorce, and inheritance traditions of the Kalash people living in the Kalash Valley.
The proposed Kalash Marriage Act seeks to codify long-standing customary practices by introducing legal requirements for marriage registration, minimum age standards, and structured procedures for family disputes. Under the draft, all marriages would be required to be registered with local village or neighbourhood councils.
Lawmakers have set the minimum marriage age at 18 years under the proposed framework. The bill also outlines provisions for divorce, allowing women to seek legal separation on grounds such as abuse, abandonment, or failure to provide financial support through the courts.
The draft legislation introduces penalties for violations of consent and age requirements. Offenders could face imprisonment of up to six months and fines reaching Rs50,000. It also proposes stricter penalties for falsification or misrepresentation in marriage registration, with fines up to Rs100,000.
Officials said the proposed law would also recognize marriages conducted before its enactment, ensuring legal continuity for existing family arrangements within the community. The measure is intended to safeguard cultural identity while aligning customary practices with constitutional protections and modern legal standards in Pakistan.
The bill has been presented in the provincial assembly in Peshawar and is expected to undergo committee review in the coming weeks. Authorities stated that consultations with community elders and legal experts will continue to ensure culturally sensitive implementation and legal clarity.
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