Senate Approves Bill For Raising Marriageable Age To 18 Years

Faizan Hashmi Published April 29, 2019 | 08:07 PM

Senate on Monday approved the federal Child Marriage Restraint (Amendment) Bill, 2017 - a bill that proposes to increase the minimum marriageable age for girls to 18 years- with a majority

Islamabad (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 29th April, 2019) Senate on Monday approved the federal Child Marriage Restraint (Amendment) Bill, 2017 - a bill that proposes to increase the minimum marriageable age for girls to 18 years- with a majority.The Bill (Amendment) was moved by PPP senior leader Sherry Rehman.

Jamiat-e-Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) and Jamaat Islami (JI), and Minister for Religious Affairs Pir Noorul Haq Qadri opposed the Bill (Amendment).They termed the bill against the Islamic principles and walked out the Senate session in protest.

JUI-F Senator Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haidri said increase in the minimum marriageable age to 18 years is against the Islamic principles, adding that, puberty is a condition for marriage in islam.He said Constitutional change which is against the Islamic principles is not good.

He said the bill should first be sent to Federal Shariat Court (FSC) so it can be reviewed under the Islamic principles.

Senator Mushtaq Ahmed Khan said that he had opposed the amendment the day it was moved but he was never invited by the committee to take his consent.

He said differences should be welcomed adding that criticism is good for healthy constitutional reforms. Khan termed the amendment bill against the Constitutional Article-2A.He said everyone is against child marriage but 18 years is against the Islamic principles.

He said as many as 12,000 women and 27,000 infants died during deliver which shows that we don't have proper treatment facilities.Senator Maulana Attaur Rehman commented that there is no doubt that Senator Sherry Rehman moved this bill with good intention but he is afraid that the bill would cause spread of dirt in society.

He termed the amendment nothing but problems and societal disparity. Rehman expressed his strong reservations over the bill.