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Nikahnama – A Right Crossed Out in Ink

Nikahnama – A Right Crossed Out in Ink

An honest contract with an honest signature

In many Pakistani weddings, the most important moment for the bride lasts less than 60 seconds. During the ceremony, whether large or simple, a registrar is sent to the bride, sitting amongst the women of her family, with a pen and an instruction to sign on the dotted line. In most cases, the bride is unaware of the terms of the contract she is binding herself to. By agreeing to her terms for a promised new life, she is unaware of key exit clauses that may have been omitted from the contract in front of her. This exclusion may be by the counterparty, the groom, or even her own family, hoping that the exit rights may never be exercised.A Nikhanama is a legally binding marriage contract. It is enforceable in a Pakistani court of law, it sets the mehr (a form of consideration from the groom to the bride), records the marriage conditions that both spouses must oblige by, and registers the marriage within the country’s jurisdiction. It is similar to a corporate contract that two companies may enter into. By comparison, then, if we would not enter into business deals without reading and negotiating their contractual terms and........

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