New government passport rules for married and divorced women

Islamabad: The National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) and the passport issuing authority have different passport rules for married women. Mustafa Jamal Kazi, Director General of Immigration and Passports, clarified the matter.

The question is whether a married woman’s spouse’s name should appear on her passport rather than her father’s. This raised concerns about the opposing policies of the two government agencies and the appearance of discrimination against women.

Khadija Bukhari highlighted this point. She is a lawyer at the Lahore High Court. The matter was discussed in Geo News’s program ‘Geo Pakistan’. Bukhari said that she updated her CNIC with Nadra after her marriage. However, she changed her marital status, adding her father’s surname. However, she was told to get a new CNIC number and add her husband’s name when renewing her passport.

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As a result of this scenario, attention was drawn to the issue of discrimination against women by public institutions. Against her will, a woman’s identity is forever linked to her ex-husband, even in divorce proceedings.

Although Kazi called Bukhari’s case a subjugation, he was referring to the topic raised in the Geo News program. He explained that while passports are international documents prepared in accordance with international agreements, the Nadra files are intended for local use in Pakistan. He emphasized that the rule regarding a woman’s passport applies. And if her husband’s name is not on their passports, traveling with children may face difficulties. As a result, it is increasingly difficult to confirm the paternity of children.

Kazi also touched on the legal issues that arise when a divorce is announced incorrectly. He states that marriage and divorce registration is required. If these are not formally documented, custody disputes arise.

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He explained that it is permissible to include the name of a married woman’s spouse in a passport. Changes could be made to passport rules to include a field for the ex-husband’s name in divorce proceedings.

In response, Home Secretary Khurram Ali Agha constituted a committee chaired by Home Minister Mohsin Naqvi to look into the matter. Naqvi directed the group to study the problems faced by married and divorced women regarding passports and find a workable solution. He stressed that the suggestions must focus on the comfort and peace of mind of married women. The government is also trying to bring the matter to an early conclusion in line with laws and regulations.