CNIC mandate proposed for marriages, job

It has been proposed to establish task forces at the provincial and district levels to ensure the effective implementation and enforcement of human rights laws.

Members of the National Task Force on Human Rights made this proposal at a meeting held at the Federal Ministry of Human Rights (MoHR).

The meeting was chaired by Minister for Law Azam Nazeer Tarrar and spearheaded by Ministry of Human Rights Federal Secretary AD Khowaja. The members also called for establishing a Commission for Minority Rights in collaboration with the Ministry of Religious Affairs.

The participants emphasized harmonizing the legal age of marriage nationwide to 18 years, expressing concern over incidents of mob violence, hate speech, and youth radicalization. They also recommended devising strategies to address these tendencies at every level.

National Commission on the Rights of Children (NCRC) Chairperson Ayesha Raza Farooq suggested amending the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) to make it mandatory for people tying the knot and seeking a job to have Computerized National Identity Cards (CNICs).

She said such measures could help counter both child marriage and child labor. As per Pakistani law, CNICs can only be acquired after a person’s 18th birthday. She also stressed harmonizing the laws related to child rights and child protection.

The NCRC chairperson also emphasized the importance of implementing laws effectively and establishing protection centers to safeguard transgender rights.

She voiced concerns about rising youth radicalization and societal intolerance, stressing the need for equitable access to law and equal protection for all, regardless of religion.

The task force appreciated the “indispensable role” of the NCRC in safeguarding and advancing human rights. A separate meeting was proposed to devise a strategy to curb mob violence and hate speech on social media, along with initiatives for youth de-radicalization.