Government to Revise Passport Policy Regarding Married and Divorced Women
On Thursday, Director General Immigration and Passports, Mustafa Jamal Kazi, provided clarity regarding the discrepancy highlighted between the policies of the National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) and the passport issuing authority, specifically concerning married women.
The issue revolves around the requirement for a “married woman’s” passport to bear her husband’s name instead of her father’s—a regulation that has sparked concerns about inconsistencies between the policies of two governmental bodies, as well as the policy’s gender bias against women.
Consul General in New York, Aamer Ahmed Atozai, received the artifacts on behalf of the Pakistani government and thanked the District Attorney’s office, its Antiquities Trafficking Unit, and the Department of Homeland Security for recovering them.
The matter surfaced during a recent episode of Geo News program ‘Geo Pakistan’, where Khadija Bukhari, a lawyer and petitioner in a case before the Lahore High Court, discussed the potential inconvenience and distress this requirement could cause for women who wish to retain their father’s name on their identification documents, regardless of their marital status.
Bukhari recounted her experience of having her Computerised National Identity Card (CNIC) updated with Nadra after marriage, opting to retain her father’s name and indicate her marital status without issue. However, when she sought to renew her passport using the same details, passport authority personnel insisted on including her husband’s name, necessitating a new CNIC before passport renewal.
Bukhari’s revelation sparked a discourse on potential discrimination against women by government institutions. Even in cases of divorce, the woman’s identity remains tied to her former husband without regard for her preferences.
Kazi refrained from commenting on the specific case, citing its pending status in court, but addressed the arguments raised during the Geo News program.
He clarified that passport and Nadra records serve different purposes; the latter’s registration is local and for use within Pakistan, while passports serve as international documents aligned with international agreements.
Kazi acknowledged that women often encounter difficulties when traveling with children if their passport bears their father’s name, complicating the determination of biological relationships when the father is absent.
In recent years, the passport authority has faced legal challenges where divorces are not formally declared. Kazi emphasized the legal requirement for citizens to register both marriage and divorce events.
Regarding divorced women, Kazi stated that modifications will be made in passports, including adding a box to mention the name of the ex-husband.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has taken note of the issue and formed a committee headed by Interior Secretary Khurram Ali Agha to address it. Naqvi instructed the committee to review all concerns related to passports for women and propose solutions prioritizing the convenience of married women within the bounds of regulations.
