Civil society welcomes law on Hindu marriages

Karachi

In a joint statement issued on Sunday, a number of human rights organisations welcomed the Sindh Hindu Marriage Bill, 2016 and appreciated the role of provincial assembly members in getting the bill passed.

The organisations also lauded the role of MPAs belonging to minority communities for putting in concerted efforts to get the bill unanimously passed by the house.

The statement was issued by organisations including the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, Pakistan Institute of Labour Education and Research (Piler), Aurat Foundation, Shirkat Gah, Urban Resource Centre, Sindh Agriculture and Forestry Workers’ Coordination Organisation, Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum, Green Rural Development Organisation, REAT Network, SAP-Pk.

“We hope the required institutional framework would be implemented in the province to facilitate Hindus to get their marriages registered under the law,” the statement read.

In a move appreciable but ironical at the same time, the Sindh Assembly passed the law on February 15 – the first such legislation in the country’s history – that allows Hindu marriages to be registered, thereby finally giving them validity in the land.

The Sindh Hindus Marriage Bill, 2016 also specifies the procedure and conditions for marriages in the minority community, providing them with legal cover.

The law also applies to Buddhists, Jains, and Sikhs.

Parliamentary affairs minister Nisar Ahmed Khuhro moved the bill in the House.

Informing the lawmakers about its objectives, the minister observed that without a proper registration law, members of the Hindu and other religious communities were facing great difficulties.

He added that religious minorities could neither obtain nor produce legal documentary evidence as a proof of registration of their marriages because of the absence of a law.

Other lawmakers, while speaking in the House on the proposed legislation, appreciated the government’s intention and efforts for preparing the law.