ISLAMABAD: The Cou­ncil of Islamic Ideology (CII) has failed to take a clear stance on the proposed child marriage bill, but suggested that the government initiate an awareness campaign in this regard.

While the issue of fixing the minimum age for marriage in the country has been under discussion in the Senate and the National Assembly, the CII on Friday responded to the issue in a hotchpotch manner, referring to its earlier decision taken about seven months ago.

The CII said the issue of fixing the minimum age for marriage had been discussed in detail in a number of meetings and its recommendation was issued after the council’s 212th meeting held on Sept 26-27, 2018.

A statement issued by CII’s director general for research Dr Inamullah said that a 10-page comprehensive report had been presented at that time in which not only details of the ages for marriage in 12 Muslim countries were mentioned but the arguments of Islamic scholars in favour or against fixing the age were also provided.

The council suggests government initiate awareness campaign in this regard

“The apex body of the council after a three-hour discussion formulated its recommendation basing it on the opinion of the Grand Mufti of Pakistan, the late Maulana Mufti Muhammad Shafi [father of Maulana Muhammad Taqi Usmani] that child marriage should be discouraged as it is fraught with multiple problems,” Dr Inamullah said.

The CII recommended that the government initiate a campaign for creating awareness among people with the help of Islamic scholars in order to discourage child marriages. The report said complications regarding child marriage included registration of bride’s name with the National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra). Besides, it added, child marriage was not acceptable in the modern world.

But at the same time, the report noted that marriage was linked with the age of attaining puberty and several references had been made regarding the marriage of respectable ladies affiliated with Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) that they were married in young age.

The similar argument was made by ruling Pakis­tan Tehreek-i-Insaf lawmaker Ali Mohammad Khan while opposing the bill recently in the National Assembly.

The CII report also highlighted that “members of the council were of the opinion that many complications would emerge due to legislation on fixing 18 years as age limit for marriage”.

The CII suggested that the government take concrete steps to eliminate causes of the trend of child marriages in certain areas of the country. The council said the government “should take effective steps for eliminating the reasons due to which some families in Pakistan are forced to marry off children at a young age”.

The CII report said marriage could be solemnised after the girl attained the age of puberty, but rukhsati (send-off) should be held after she attained the age of 18.

The Senate recently passed the Child Marriage Restraint (Amendment) Bill, 2018 that proposes that the minimum age for marriage be set at 18. But it was opposed by the senators belonging to the religious parties and some members of the PTI who were of the opinion that the bill should have been sent to the CII before tabling it in the house.

The following day a similar bill was tabled in the National Assembly by PTI MNA Ramesh Kumar Vankwani, but it faced strong opposition from some members of the ruling party. The bill was pending with the National Assembly speaker.

Members of the community have long been demanding strict legislation to discourage the practice of kidnapping and forced marriage of underage Hindu girls in Sindh.

Published in Dawn, May 4th, 2019