CII unable to function due to lack of members

Council’s word on early child marriage, punishment on triple talaq awaited

ISLAMABAD: The work of the Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) has been on a halt as nine posts of member have been lying vacant since March 5.

Chairman CII Dr Qibla Ayaz told The Express Tribune that the Council is unable to take up various important issues referred to it by different committees after March 5.

He said some important bills had been pending with the CII, including the Child Marriage Restraint Bill. The CII was also to propose punishment for ‘triple divorce’ in one go, he added.

“CII wants to give its recommendation on the Child Marriage Restraint Bill and punishment for triple divorce in one go as soon as possible, but it has not been able to do so because of the nine vacant posts,” he said.

“The Ministry of Law and Justice is working on nominating Council members on merit; and once finalised, a summary for approval will be send to the prime minister,” he replied to a question regarding any progress made.



The Child Marriage Restraint Bill has been pending with the CII for past three months. A standing committee of the Senate had passed the bill moved by Senator Sehar Kamran in December last. It was then referred to the CII for review and the council was asked to compile a report within three weeks. Unfortunately, almost three months have passed and the CII has not yet shared its report or recommendations.

Earlier, the chairman said that there were some issues in the Child Marriage Restraint Bill “which makes it a challenging task to present a final view on it”.

However, the recommendation given earlier for allowing nikkah at any age but ‘rukhsati’ only after the age of 18 is still under consideration of the council with the final word to come once the nine vacant posts are filled.

The issue of the triple talaq in one go came after India’s government introduced a bill in parliament aimed at prosecuting Muslim men divorcing their wives using the triple talaq. This issue was also raised at the CII, after which it announced that it was going to prepare a bill which would be sent to the Ministry of Law and Justice that would proscribe triple talaq in one go, declaring it punishable, and would also recommend the punishment.