Pakistan

NA panel refuses to raise minimum marriage age for girls

Proposal by MNA Kishwer Zehra unanimously declared ‘un-Islamic’

Sehrish Wasif May 05, 2017

PHOTO: AFP

ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Religious Affairs on Thursday unanimously rejected a bill aimed at increasing the minimum legal age for marriage of a girl to 18 years from 16.

‘The Child Marriage Restraint (Amendment) Bill, 2016’, a private member’s bill, was moved by MNA Kishwer Zehra.

The NA committee -- which met under the chairmanship of MNA Hafiz Abdul Kareem -- called the proposed amendment ‘un-Islamic’ for being against Sunnah. Even MNAs belonging to other religions endorsed the rejection.

The committee also unanimously approved ‘The Education of Holy Quran According to Recitation by Sighting and with Translation, Learning by Heart and with Correct Pronunciation Bill, 2014’.

This bill was moved by MNA Sahibzada Tariqullah and was approved as “The Holy Quran (Education and Propagation, Recitation by Sighting, Translation, Learning by Heart and Correct Pronunciation) Act, 2017”.

Bill aiming to ban child marriages shot down

The committee also discussed ‘The National Commission for Minority Rights Act, 2015’ at the request of MNA Lal Chand Malhi.

MNA Tariq Christopher Qaiser recommended increase in the number of commission members, giving representation to all minorities. He also called for allowing the minorities to directly elect their representatives.

In response, the committee constituted a sub-committee under MNA Ali Muhammad Khan with MNAs Lal Chand Malhi, Tariq Christopher Qaiser and Sahibzada Muhammad Yaqub as members.

Later, officials of the Ministry of Religious Affairs briefed the committee about Hajj arrangements under the new Hajj policy 2017.

Protecting their future: Social activists push for anti-child marriage bill

The ministry officials expressed reservations over Rs10,000 increase in Hajj expenses. They were briefed about reasons for the increase, including the cost of various services provided to pilgrims.

They were informed that the Ministry of Religious Affairs would provide three superior quality meals to all pilgrims as well as comfortable accommodations and travel facilitates.

COMMENTS (6)

Khan muhammad | 7 years ago | Reply Why do we have mullahs making decisions and influencing them in the first place? nobody voted for them and they don't reflect the real Islam, so might as well get rid of them. Decisions should be made on pure scientific reasoning and not mullahism.

Lolz | 7 years ago | Reply I think Islam should not be judged by clerics and mullahs who live in a different state of mind. The golden era of Islam has seen numerous brains that paved the way for development and democracy. People like Ibn e Khuldun are still taught in international universities who are still referred as fathers of subjects like sociology, ethics, mathematics, physics etc. In contemporary times muslims like Prince Aga Khan are contributing their share without a thirst of recognition and power. Perhaps it is the political Islam that confronts, otherwise Islam as faith has got nothing to do with conflicts.

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Parvez | 7 years ago | Reply As long the ' literalist element ' remain in charge of religious matters and politicians patronize them .......progress will not happen.

Baba Luga | 7 years ago | Reply @mushtaq: Need to purge country of these buffoons Attaturk style.

sheraz | 7 years ago | Reply Mullah Vs Liberals! God save Pakistan from both.

mushtaq | 7 years ago | Reply As long as mullah and religion has a say in state affairs,constitution,misery,suffering will remain in our society.As if this country is just for we muslims.We issue passports to non-muslim Pakistanis with a passport with title Islamic Republic of Pakistan.In this matter,at least India and other nations are better and smart

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