Islamabad UCs to start registering religious minorities' marriages, says PM's aide.

ISLAMABAD -- Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Capital Development Authority (CDA) Affairs Ali Nawaz Awan on Friday said after 15 days union councils in Islamabad, for the first time, will start registering marriages of religious minorities.

'This chronic issue has been resolved as a notification has been issued in this regard,' he said.

Talking to Dawn, Mr Awan, who is also MNA from Islamabad, said religious minorities in Islamabad had been facing issues as their marriages were not registered in union councils due to which they could not prepare family trees.

He said earlier there was no mechanism to issue marriage and divorce certificates and this issue has been creating problems particularly for the Christian community. The arbitration council under the capital administration is functioning in accordance with Muslim Family Law 1961, which only deals with arbitration and registration of Nikah and divorce of Muslims.

He said tens of thousands of people belonging to the religious minorities, mostly Christians, live in various slums, sectors and rural area of the capital and they had been facing issues related to their documentations.

'A judgment of the Supreme Court in this regard has already been implemented in other cities but not in Islamabad,' he said and added that during his election campaign he had promised with the minorities that he would resolve their issues.

'I have fulfilled my promise for registration of marriage certificates while other initiatives will also be taken for their welfare,' he said.

The notification issued by the office of the chief commissioner dated Dec 16 stated: 'The competent authority has been pleased to appoint Assistant...