Senate Unanimously Passes Bill To Prevent Child Marriage, Ji Opposes
The True Post( Web news)The Senate session began under the chairmanship of Acting Chairman Syedal Khan, in which the Child Marriage Bill was presented by PPP Senator Sherry Rehman.
Sherry Rehman said that girls become mothers at the age of sixteen, and after marrying at an early age, girls die during childbirth. This bill was unanimously passed by the Senate in 2013.
JUI Senator Kamran Murtaza said that this bill is contrary to the Islamic system and should be sent to the Council of Islamic Ideology.
Senator Maulana Ata-ur-Rehman said that in our society, if you allow children to do whatever they want without the consent of their parents, it will become a European society. In an Islamic society, if you take away a right from parents, what will be the result? JUI will oppose this bill and walk out. This bill should be handed over to the relevant committee.
Senator Rubina Qaimkhani said that this bill was first presented in the Sindh Assembly and has been passed by the Council of Islamic Ideology. These people do not even go to villages, young girls are married there. Issues regarding children’s rights are very serious in our society. Senator Atta-ur-Rehman said that there is no JUI member in the Sindh Assembly.
Senator Dost Muhammad said that this bill should go to the Council of Islamic Ideology. Senator Khalil Tahir Sindhu said that apart from Pakistan, show us a single Muslim country in the world where the age of marriage is less than 18 years.
Senator Aimal Khan said that the debate we are getting into is interfering in Europe and religion. The fixed time for marriage is puberty. You should bring a law where marriages are being held at gunpoint. We should not imitate the West. The law given by Allah is the best. The will of the girl child and the parents of the girl child is necessary. Senator Zarqa Taimur Suhrawardy said that we are Muslims and we should think as Muslims.
Maulana Abdul Wasi said, “Why do you want to make this bill controversial? It is not our right to make laws on marriage, divorce, etc., a constitutional institution exists, so why do we legislate on it? If this bill is passed without the Islamic Ideology Council, we will strongly condemn it.”
Senator Farooq H. Naik said, “Tell me, Maulana! Where in Islam is it written what is the age of puberty?” The country’s law says that a person under the age of 18 is a child. Senator Samina Mumtaz said that child marriage is a sin. Underage marriages are prohibited in Egypt.
Maulana Ata-ur-Rehman said that Hazrat Aisha (RA) was married at the age of nine, according to some traditions, she was married at the age of twelve, while some traditions say she was married at the age of 14.
Senator Sarmad Ali said that this is not a religious issue but a social one. The example of Hazrat Aisha (RA) has been given, but currently the marriageable age in Saudi Arabia is 18 years.
Senator Sherry Rehman said that the state has the right to determine the age of puberty. This law has been in force in Sindh for eleven years. The Federal Shariat Court has not declared this law null and void.
senator Nasima Ehsan said that I want to congratulate Senator Sherry Rehman. I got married at the age of 13. I was studying in the seventh grade. Not every in-law is like my in-law. Nowadays, girls are becoming adults at the age of 9 or 10. So should we marry girls at this age?
Later, the Deputy Speaker held a vote in the House on the bill to stop child marriage, on which JUI senators boycotted the House, the members unanimously approved the bill.
