Voice raised against practice of child marriage

Islamabad:Religious scholars, legislators and civil society spoke with one voice against the practice of child marriage in Pakistan at a hotel here on Thursday, says a press release.

A national Convention against the Practice of Child Marriage was organised by Center for Communication Programmes Pakistan in collaboration with civil society organizations from across the country that form ‘End Child Marriage in Pakistan’ caucus.

The convention showcased provincial case studies related to sociological as well as religious drivers of child marriage, cultural practices, gaps in legislation and issues faced by communities with the current applicable laws of child marriage, poster exhibition against the practice of child marriage, an advocacy booth where civil society showcased their respective material. The convention organised by Center for Communication Programmes Pakistan with support of AmplifyChange was widely attended by civil society organisations, legislators, media, academia, multi-lateral organisations as well as religious scholars.

Chairperson, Women Parliamentary Caucus, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Maliha Ali Asghar Khan hailing from the ruling party remarked that a government bill aiming at increasing the age of marriage of girl from 16 to 18 years including has been submitted to cabinet for approval and will be tabled in the assembly soon. She further shared that WPC is going to support the bill once tabled. Although the average age of marriage for girls has increased according to the statistics presented in Pakistan Demographic Health Survey 2017-18, yet a deeper analysis points towards increase in marriages at the age of 15 and 16 years and increase in childbirth in these age groups, which is alarming.

Rahila Khadim Hussain, member Provincial Assembly, Punjab from PML-N shared that she had worked tirelessly for amendments in the now applicable law in Punjab and was able to enact harsher punishments yet the increase in the age of the girl child for marriage could not be increased from 16 to 18 years. She further remarked, that they faced a lot of resistance from assembly members and from religious fraternity. She also shared that she has submitted a bill against the practice of child marriage in the Punjab assembly.

Religious scholars from Islamabad, Sindh and Punjab also spoke at the occasion. Maulana Sharif Hazarvi a renowned religious scholar from Madrassah Darusalam, Islamabad remarked that it is essential that the issue be looked at beyond the discussion of reason and absence of reason for child marriage according to sharia. He further stated that in our cultural and sociological context when we review child marriage and responsibilities that a girl has, we have to think of increasing the age of child marriage till the time a girl can inculcate moral values and educate her children to face the world.

Syed Ahmad Yusuf Banuri, religious scholar from Jamia Baunri, Karachi shared that mental maturity of a male and female entering the contract of marriage is a must according to Islam and if we only take into account physical maturity and ignore mental maturity, we cannot expect a wholesome family unit to form, which is the basis of every society and civilization. In the absence of mental maturity, we cannot expect a Muslim family unit to be a model in today’s world where we are at risk of moral degradation.

Dr. Raghib Naeemi, member of Council of Islamic Ideology and renowned scholar of Jamia Neemia, Lahore shared that although sharia have given levy where child marriage is concerned but has not made it compulsory and we have to start thinking about the age of marriage as in our society child marriage is creating moral, social and financial challenges.

The winner of inter university poster competition held amongst higher educational institutions across Pakistan was also awarded by a prize. The competition was won by Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Institute of Science and Technology, Karachi.