CII to give its view on crucial bill next month

ISLAMABAD: The Child Marriage Restraint (Amendment) Bill 2017, which was referred to the Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) by the Senate Standing Committee on Interior last year for further deliberation is expected to face further delay.

The bill is pending with the CII since October 2017 and the council was expected to give its view this month. However, the recommendations will face another month’s delay and is expected to be shared next month.

It is pertinent to mention here that Senator Sehar Kamran moved this bill, who proposed an amendment of increasing the legal age of marriage from 16 to 18 years. Meanwhile, considering the sensitive nature of the issue, it was recommended to the CII for review and suggestion last year.

CII chief Dr Qibla Ayaz told The Express Tribune that the director general of CII research wing is in process of compiling a detailed research report on this issue. “Due to the sensitivity of the issue, the CII needs some time to come up with some concrete and logical recommendations according to Islam and Sunnah on the required legal age of child for marriages in Pakistan,” he said.

He said that it is expected that the research work on the issue will be completed by the end of this month and the research report will be presented before the committee constituted by the Council earlier this year under the chairmanship of Justice Raza Khan for further review.

“Once the report is reviewed by the committee it will be tabled before the council members to share their views and suggestions on the subject matter,” added Dr Ayaz.

He said that the reason behind this delay is the sensitivity of the issue. “The DG research wing is putting all his efforts in gathering required information, ages set by other Islamic countries and references from the Holy Quran and the sayings of our beloved Prophet (PBUH) on this issue,” maintained Dr Ayaz.

After considering the detailed research report, the Council members would be in a position to give their suggestions after a discussion on the age issue.

Source: Express Tribune