Bill to prevent misdemeanors in Pakistan, marriage under the age of 18 is mandatory

- Muslim men and women have been given the right to marry before the age of 18, but their parents have to fulfill it: Rashid

New delhi date. May 28, 2021, Friday

In Pakistan's Sindh province, a bill has been introduced to protect children from child abuse, which has become a topic of discussion across the country. The draft bill states that marriages of people under the age of 18 should be allowed to prevent misconduct. If the bill is approved, teenage marriage may become mandatory in Pakistan.

In fact, in Sindh province, the incidence of rape with women and children is on the rise. In these circumstances, Syed Abdul Rashid, a member of the Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) of the provincial assembly, presented a draft of the Sindh Compulsory Marriage Act, 2021 in the Secretariat. It said that parents whose adult children have not been married even after 18 years of age have to submit an affidavit to the Deputy Commissioner of the district with a valid reason for the delay in getting married.

The draft of the proposed bill states that parents who fail to submit an affidavit will have to pay a fine of Rs 500. According to Rashid, if the bill is allowed to become law, it will bring happiness to the society.

Unethical activities will be controlled

There is also a provision to punish those who violate this law. The Pakistani politician said that this would help in controlling the evils of the society, child abuse and immoral activities. According to Rashid, Muslim men and women have been given the right to marry before the age of 18 but it will be the responsibility of their parents to fulfill it.

Protests also erupted

Opposition to the bill has grown louder in Pakistan. MP Sadia Javed said the age of 18 is not mandatory for marriage in Islam. At this age a person cannot even complete his studies. No one wants their daughter to marry an unemployed person. Rashid described unemployment as a valid concern but said the government would remove barriers to early marriage.