Polygamy.

Byline: Shamsul Hassan Bharwana - Lahore

MANY Pakistanis particularly men have absurd perceptions about polygamy. The practice is prohibited in Turkey, the Central Asian countries and Albania, while the Arabs are mostly in favour. Many Pakistani men are all for contracting a second marriage as they think - mistakenly - that they have the right to do so.

Islam allows a man to have four wives at the same time only if he can ensure equal distribution of his time and resources between his spouses. Then too, if a spouse wants to opt out she has the right to do so and the man has to oblige.

Furthermore the family laws of Pakistan impose a restriction on a person's right to polygamy as he has to ask his first wife for permission and also seek consent of the chairman of the arbitration council according to Section 6 of Muslim Family Law Ordinance 1961. I feel women should give permission - even if only grudgingly - for the sake of saving some of their...