Lahore: Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervez Elahi has directed that new forms with “Khatam-a-Nabuwat’ declaration included for couples to get married in the province.

In a statement on July 30, the newly-elected Punjab chief minister said that at the time of marriage, it will be mandatory for the bride and groom to sign the oath of the Finality of Prophethood (PBUH).

He instructed the issuance of new forms containing the affidavit of the Finality of Prophethood (PBUH) to the marriage registrar.

He ordered strict action against those who do not give new forms.

The Punjab Chief Minister also said that the marriage registrar who does not use the new marriage form can be punished with one-month imprisonment and fine.

The foundation of this decision was laid during the tenure of former chief minister Usman Buzdar. On 26 October, PML-Q MPAs Khadija Umar, Bisma Chaudhry and PML-N’s Maulana Ilyas Chenyoti had presented the resolution in the Punjab Assembly seeking the inclusion of a column of the affidavit of Khatam-e-Nabuwat (SAW) in the marriage form.

The resolution, presented with the permission of Chaudhry Pervez Elahi who was the speaker at that time, was unanimously approved by the House.

Later, the resolution was approved by the Usman Buzdar-led Cabinet, according to the announcement issued by the Government of Punjab on March 1. The Cabinet had approved the amendment to the West Pakistan Rules under the Muslim Family Laws Ordinance 1961.