Punish three consecutive divorce declarations: Pakistan cleric

The Council of Islamic Ideology in Pakistan decreed Wednesday that a husband who uttered "divorce" thrice consecutively would liable to punishment as it was un-Islamic.

The chairman of the council, Maulana Muhammad Khan Sherani said at a press conference that a man could pronounce one divorce at a time as per the method prescribed by the Shariah, according to a Geo News report.

Islamic family law says that a man has to divorce his wife thrice before the divorce legally comes into effect.

The council also suggested that the person approving on paper, three divorces consecutively, should also be liable to punishment.

According to the council, a reference would be needed to remarry after the first divorce and a Nikah (marriage contract) would be necessary to remarry after the second divorce.

Shirani added that any woman over 40 years of age could be appointed as a judge, provided that she followed the practice of wearing the hijab (veil).

Backing the council's recommendations, chief cleric of the Deobandi Islamic educational institute, Jamia Binoria, Mufti Mohammad Naeem, said that three consecutive divorce declarations were against the Sunnah.

Sunnah is the way of life that is considered to be normative for Muslims, based on the teachings and practices of the Prophet Muhammad and interpretations of the Islamic holy text-- the Quran.

"In our society, divorces are given on petty issues," he said, adding that divorce rates were increasing in Pakistan.