KARACHI:
In Pakistan, instances of forced marriages are extremely common. According to research, cases of forced marriages in the country have exceeded 15 million. Most cases involve under-age girls that are 14 to 16 years of age. These girls are taken out of schools and married off to men much older than them. This has led many young girls to either commit suicide or to run away from their homes in order to escape their ill fate. The latter choice often lands women in even more dangerous situations as they end up being trafficked and or are forced to resort to prostitution. Once these women have fled their homes, they do not have the option of returning due to societal shame and social stigmas.
Although Islam strictly forbids forced marriages and allows both men and women to marry out of their own free will, our society is constricted with conservative and retrogressive views. Forced marriage is prohibited by the law in Pakistan, but the practice continues unabated. The government should ensure that the law is thoroughly implemented in order to put an end to this menace once and for all.
Usama Mughal
Kandhkot
Published in The Express Tribune, February 1st, 2022.
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