CII opposes bill, recommends awareness campaigns against child marriage

ISLAMABAD: The Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) has opposed a bill on fixation of 18 years age for marriage, but has recommended the government to initiate awareness campaigns against child marriages instead of passing legislation.

According to a statement issued here, members of the council were of the opinion that many complications would emerge due to legislation on fixation of 18 years age for marriage.

Members of the Council stressed that government should take concrete steps to eliminate causes of the trend of child marriages in certain areas of the country.

The apex body of the Council, after a three-hour discussion, finalised its recommendation based on the opinion of the Grand Mufti of Pakistan, late Maulana Mufti Muhammad Shafi (father of Maulana Muhammad Taqi Usmani) that child marriages should be discouraged as it is fraught with multiple problems.

Council had presented a 10-page comprehensive report in which not only the details regarding age of marriage in 12 Muslim countries were mentioned, but also the arguments of Islamic scholars in favor or against fixing age of marriage were provided.

Research Department of the CII has issued details about the proposed child marriage bill under discussion in the Senate and the National Assembly and has said that the Council has held lengthy discussions on this issue in a number of meetings.

Former Senator Sehar Kamran had presented the bill initially which came under discussion in the Council’s 212th meeting held on 26th-27th September, 2018, the statement added.

The bill to amend the child marriage restraint act 1929 was recently presented in the National Assembly. The bill exposed divisions within the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf government’s rank and file as the cabinet members openly expressed conflicting views on it.

The bill appeared in the national assembly a day after the Senate approved it with a majority vote. According to the amendment, marriage under 18 years can lead to a fine of Rs200,000 and three years of rigorous punishment for facilitators.

Federal Minister for Human rights Shireen Mazari rejected the opposition raised by fellow cabinet members and said that nobody or individual has sole authority on religious matters.

The deputy speaker called for a vote on the bill – which was later passed after winning by 72-50. The bill was referred to a standing committee.